Ryan Broekhoff hits miraculous buzzer-beater
Australian Boomer Ryan Broekhoff has become renown for hitting some big shots. Arguably none have been bigger - in this case based on distance - than his miraculous full court buzzer-beater for Lokomotiv Kuban in their VTB United League contest against Khimki Moscow.
"I knew there was only a couple of second left on the clock, and when I got that rebound, you just throw it up, and you hope and you pray," said Broekhoff in the post-game press conference.
"You know, it was just a one-off thing that it went in!"
Following a Khimki missed free throw at the end of the first term, Broekhoff pulled down the defensive rebound, dribbled out to the right-hand side of the key and launched a long-range attempt that found the bottom of the net. It capped a brilliant opening term by Lokomotiv who had run out to an early 28-17 lead, with Broekhoff adding 6 of those points.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCcPDInq8Lk
Khimki would fight their way back into the contest in the second period to steal a 7 point lead at half time. From there the game became an enthralling battle with neither team able to gain the ascendancy. Just as Lokomotiv appeared to have sealed the win down the stretch, Alex Shved came up with some big shots of his own to steal the win, 84-89.
Broekhoff would finish with 14 points (5-of-9 FG) and 4 rebounds in 25 minutes. In a tight tussle at the top of the table, Lokomotiv fell to fourth place in the standings with a 13-4 record, behind CSKA Moscow (15-2) and Khimki and Zenit St Petersberg who both have 14-3 records.
His big shot comes off the back of a solid showing in the VTB United League All-Star game, also finishing second in the three-point shooting contest. Broekhoff has a habit of hitting big shots, both at his time in college with Valparaiso, but also in Europe. He drained a game-winning three-pointer for Lokomotiv in their EuroLeague win against Anadolou Efes last season, and also hit the big shot that sunk Brock Motum and Zalgiris Kaunas.
The 6'7 sharpshooting swingman is averaging 7.4 points while shooting 41% from the field and 48.3% from beyond the arc, with 5.5 rebounds per game for Lokomotiv in the 2016/17 VTB United League season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDfr8kv7x3I
