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Latvian basketball players Daris Bertāns and Jānis Timma on Sunday, they scored 12 and six points, respectively, in the first game of the United League season, but that was not enough for their team in the Moscow region, Khimki, to celebrate the victory.
At home 67:79 (15:18, 20:19, 20:14, 12:28), the Muscovites conceded to St. Petersburg’s Zenit team, once represented by Timma.
Bertāns spent 28 minutes and one second on the court, sending two of the three two-point shots, two of the five long shots and both two “penalties” to the basket. He also scored four rebounds, made three assists, made one mistake, provoked two remarks and scored 14 efficiency points, the second best score for the team.
Meanwhile, Timma played 21 minutes and 31 seconds, taking one of three “threes” and all three free throws, but not hitting his only two-point shot. He also won one rebound, assisted in one successful attack, made three mistakes, made three remarks, provoked one violation of the rules and scored two efficiency points.
Bertan was the most productive in the home ranks, but his opponents had 16 points for Billy Beiron. Both teams did not play in the optimal lineup.
As in the previous season, 13 teams will start in this regular tournament – nine from Russia, as well as one unit each from Estonia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Poland. For the second season in a row, the VEF Rīga team is not participating in the tournament.
The 2019/2020 league season ended prematurely due to a pandemic caused by the coronavirus, without finding out the champion. At the time of the termination of the championship, the first place was taken by the Khimki of the Moscow region, but the second place was taken by the Moscow CSKA.
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