Khimki raced into a double-digit lead with a 4-20 run to bridge the first and second quarters, but Bayern roared back with a 15-0 run to go ahead at half-time, 43-40. Both teams enjoyed runs in the third period, which ended 64-64. Neither team could control a low-scoring fourth quarter, with free throws proving pivotal in the end. Wade Baldwin IV paced the winning team with 19 points and 5 assists, while Paul Zipser added 18 points, Vladimir Lucic had 10 and Jalen Reynolds combined 8 points and 9 rebounds. Alexey Shved top scored for Khimki with 18 points, also adding 8 rebounds and 9 assists. Greg Monroe scored 12 of his 18 points in the second quarter, and Janis Timma netted 10 in defeat. Bayern bounces back from two losses to improve to 8-4, while Khimki stays in last place at 2-9.

Bayern raced ahead through Baldwin from deep and Leon Radosevic with a long two. Devin Booker got Khimki on the scoreboard with 5 points, but Zipser better that with a triple and a three-point play for an 11-5 lead. Shved struck from long-range, Vyacheslav Zaytsev threw down a fastbreak slam and Jonas Jerebko scored under the basket for Khimki’s first lead, 11-12. Reynolds ended the 0-7 run with a jump hook, but Khimki stayed hot with Shved and Stefan Jovic shooting threeballs before Timma dunked to end the first quarter 15-22. Monroe opened the second quarter with a trio of close-range scores, including a three-point play for a 17-29 lead. Timma extended the margin from deep, before Zipser’s threeball and Reynolds’ jump hook got Bayern moving. Baldwin twice drove through to make it a single-digit game, 26-33, but Monroe added another pair of scores including his second three-point play. Bayern went inside for three baskets before Baldwin’s steal and slam was followed by Zipser’s layup to tie the game, 38-38. Nihad Dedovic struck from deep and Lucic exploded an alley-oop to complete a 15-0 run, but Khimki got back on track with Jerebko’s dunk, making it 43-40 at the break. The start of the third quarter was a shoot-out as Zipser, Baldwin, Lucic, Shved and Jovic all struck from deep. Jordan Mickey added a pair of close-range baskets and Shved drilled another three before driving inside to score, sending his team ahead 54-60 after a 0-10 run. Dedovic rescued Bayern from mid-range, but Shved stayed hot with a classy scoop shot. Radosevic’s layup and Zan Sisko’s triple tied it, and Dedovic added a layup for a 7-0 run, but Booker’s turnaround jumper made it 64-64 after three quarters. Timma opened the final period with a three and it remained scoreless for nearly four minutes before Zipser penetrated to score. Monroe’s jump hook was answered by Reynolds’ dunk, but Timma’s layup made it 68-71. Baldwin tied it before fouling out and Lucic briefly sent Bayern up with a triple, but Mickey’s free throws made it 76-77 with two minutes left. Nick Weiler-Babb made foul shots, 78-77, and then grabbed an offensive board to seal it from the line as Monroe couldn’t force overtime on the final buzzer.

Rare offensive board proves pivotal
Both teams protected their glass with a combined total of just 8 offensive rebounds all night. One of those, however, was crucial: with Bayern leading by 1 point in the final few seconds, Zan Sisko missed a three-pointer but Nick Weiler-Babb grabbed the offensive board. He was fouled and netted both from the free throw line to seal the win.

Close contest across the board
The two teams were incredibly well-matched statistically: Bayern scored 30 field goals against Khimki’s 29; both teams went 11-of-14 from the foul line, Bayern had 30 rebounds against Khimki’s 31, and both teams dished 19 assists.

Khimki blows cold, hot and cold
Khimki only netted two baskets in the first five minutes, before enjoying an offensive explosion to score 27 points in just 7:21 and take a 15-point lead. But then the offense went cold again, only scoring another eight points in eight minutes before half-time.

Jovic back in business
Khimki’s Stefan Jovic made his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury, and the point guard made a decent impression against his former team by recording 6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Next round
Round 13 will see Khimki host crosstown rivals CSKA Moscow in a local derby next Friday night, while Bayern receives a visit from LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne the same evening.