Hosts Krasnye Krylia Overpower Dolphins

Aaron Miles finished the game with a double-double, dishing out 13 assists to go with his 13 points

Krasnye Krylia proved too strong for the Norrköping Dolphins as their EuroLeague Challenge Group K opener went to the form book with a 93-75 home win.

The Russian team, who came through the EuroChallenge Regular Season unbeaten, picked up where they left off before the winter break as they built a big early advantage that carried them to victory.

Andre Smith started and finished a 14-4 burst that put them up 23-11 late in the first quarter.

When Omar Thomas sank a three-pointer late in the second quarter their lead had bulged to its largest point, 45-23.

The Dolphins immediately replied with seven straight points, highlighted by Edgars Jeromanovs' three-pointer and the visitors went in at the break trailing 48-36.

They started the second half strongly, and Joakim Kjellbom's dunk got the gap back into single figures, 50-41, less than two minutes into the third quarter.

Smith responded with six straight points that made it 58-43 but the Dolphins rallied once more and Keith Gabriel's three-pointer to end the third period made it 67-57.

But in case that had left any doubt about where the spoils were going in this contest, Krasnye Krylia dispelled it in the final stanza with Smith leading the way once again. His three-pointer capped a 7-0 start to the period, and he was still there at the end to score the final points from the free-throw line.

Smith finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds while Chester Simmons added 18, Dmitry Kulagin 14 and Aaron Miles 13.

Sweden international Kjellbom showed just why the Dolphins brought him in during the break with a team-high 18 points while Jeromanvos and Martin Ringstrom added 13 each.

Quotes Krasnye Krylia vs. Norrköping Dolphins

 Krasnye Krylia head coach Sergey Bazarevich:
"It was not an easy game as it may seem. We made a comfortable difference too early and then relaxed. It felt like my players did not play as a team. When the Dolphins got a chance and were losing by only nine points, my players got back to the game. I have warned them that the Dolphins have good three-point shooters. Andre Smith performed well today, scored many points and made six offensive rebounds - nice stats!"

Krasnye Krylia player Andre Smith:
"The Swedish team made this game hard for us. We were motivated all through the game because they did not give up even when we led by 22 points! I think we are favourites in our group, anyway."

Norrköping head coach Paul Burke:
"We played a hard game tonight, but we were prepared well and we knew that such a good team has many good players - even when you try to stop two players, the other three make the game. Krylia out-rebounded us, and next time we should work on our team defence and try to move the ball to the paint more often, because 32 three-point attempts - that's too many."

Norrköping player Joakim Kjellbom:
"They rebounded more than we did, and they played better defence - that's why we lost the game. The difference in points also matters, and when we were down by 22 points we kept on fighting, and moreover we have a couple of new players, and we worked on our system and tactics which could help us in our next games."

Quotes Krasnye Krylia vs. Norrköping Dolphins

 Krasnye Krylia head coach Sergey Bazarevich:
"It was not an easy game as it may seem. We made a comfortable difference too early and then relaxed. It felt like my players did not play as a team. When the Dolphins got a chance and were losing by only nine points, my players got back to the game. I have warned them that the Dolphins have good three-point shooters. Andre Smith performed well today, scored many points and made six offensive rebounds - nice stats!"

Krasnye Krylia player Andre Smith:
"The Swedish team made this game hard for us. We were motivated all through the game because they did not give up even when we led by 22 points! I think we are favourites in our group, anyway."

Norrköping head coach Paul Burke:
"We played a hard game tonight, but we were prepared well and we knew that such a good team has many good players - even when you try to stop two players, the other three make the game. Krylia out-rebounded us, and next time we should work on our team defence and try to move the ball to the paint more often, because 32 three-point attempts - that's too many."

Norrköping player Joakim Kjellbom:
"They rebounded more than we did, and they played better defence - that's why we lost the game. The difference in points also matters, and when we were down by 22 points we kept on fighting, and moreover we have a couple of new players, and we worked on our system and tactics which could help us in our next games."