Reigning Ukrainian champion Dnipro secured a hard-fought home victory over Niko-Basket in a regular-season match of the Basketball Superleague. The hosts led with a comfortable margin for most of the game, but in the final quarter, they nearly allowed their opponents to stage a sensational comeback. The final score of 82:80 in favor of Dnipro was the result of an exhausting battle where the intrigue lasted until the very final buzzer.
Fast Start and Confident Control
Dnipro started the match powerfully: thanks to a 16:0 run midway through the first quarter, the team surged ahead with a 19-point lead. Over the next two ten-minute stretches, the hosts confidently controlled the flow of the game, keeping their opponents at a safe double-digit distance and preventing the guests from finding their rhythm. A detailed breakdown of the match is published on the Sport RBC.UA portal.
Guests' Comeback in the Fourth Quarter
The picture changed dramatically in the final segment. Niko-Basket seized the initiative and scored an impressive 30 points in the quarter, not only cutting the deficit to a minimum but also tying the game on the scoreboard. Karpiuk's spectacular dunk and Martin's accurate long-range shot gave the Mykolaiv team a real chance at salvation and forced the hosts to play in maximum concentration mode.
Decisive Free Throws and Missed Winner
In a nervous finish, Dnipro's point guard Ivan Koldomasov had the final say. Maintaining his accuracy after an exhausting 35 minutes on the court, he converted four consecutive free throws, putting the hosts ahead again. In Niko-Basket's final attack, Safonov took a three-pointer for the win but missed it right at the final buzzer, sealing Dnipro's victory at 82:80.
Statistical Leaders of the Match
For the winners, Yevhen Sorozhan and Sergiy Zagreba were the top scorers with 17 points each, while Ivan Koldomasov added 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. For the guests, the foreign players delivered a standout performance: Jamir Simpson recorded a double-double (20 points and 10 rebounds), and Chris Martin contributed 18 points and 7 assists. By quarters, the match ended with scores of 27:11, 16:19, 19:20, and 20:30.
A victory in such a match confirms the high competitiveness of the Superleague, where even the reigning champion cannot afford to relax for a single minute. For Dnipro, this result became an important milestone in the regular season, while Niko-Basket showed that they are capable of fighting the leaders until the very last second.
