BC Khimki had Nymburk on the ropes early but then had to hold off a furious third-quarter fightback before prevailing 96-85 - their third Group D victory in four games.

Khimki, behind a red-hot Melvin Booker, stormed out to a 19-2 lead in the first four minutes of the game with Booker scoring nine of those points.

The home team could do little right, and things only got worse.

		Ruben Wolkowisky

When Ruben Wolkowisky made two free throws with 25 seconds to play in the first quarter, the lead ballooned to 39-7.

As first-quarter explosions go, this could not have been bigger.

Nymburk were shell-shocked.

Michal Jezdik's team returned to the court after the opening period looking for a miracle.

They went on a big spurt to close to within 39-19, but the hole they had dug for themselves was so deep it appeared there was no climbing out and at half-time, they trailed 56-36.

Jezdik's team then staged a terrific fightback.

They scored the first 15 points of the second half to close to within 56-51 and give everyone in the arena hope.

Alexey Savkov settled the nerves for the visitors with a three-pointer at the 4:19 mark of the third quarter for Khimki's first points of the half and they managed to hold a comfortable lead for the remainder of the game.

The excellent Booker finished with 19 points on six of nine shooting, including a perfect three of three from the arc.

Argentinian international Wolkowisky had 20 for Khimki, the some tally for Radoslav Rancik of Nymburk.

The loss was Nymburk's second in four games and if coach Jezdik's pre-game comments are to be believed, their EuroCup ambitions died.

Jezdik had said before tip-off: "We have to win (against Khimki) if we want to advance to another part of this competition, for sure."

Considering the way Nymburk did not give up in this game, however, only a fool would count them out with games against Nahariya and Basket Swans still remaining.