Delicate blend of basketball and boxing

A recent basketball match between Lokomotiv Rostov and Spartak St. Petersburg turned into more of a boxing bout.

The players showed they can do more than just play defence and make shots from the free throw line.

A tough physical match turned into a real confrontation, with Spartak's centre Joseph Blair landing a hook shot of a different kind. The veteran apparently wanted to protect Andrey Vishnevsky, who the Spartak management claimed was targeted by Loko's Dramir Zibirov.

The literally hard-fought game resumed with just four players on the field for each team and ended with just three per squad.

However, it was Lokomotiv who held on to clinch a semi-final berth 73-64.