UNICS beat Astana at home 81:72 (21:13, 16:14, 20:21, 24:24).
Top scorers
UNICS: Errick McCollum (21), Jamar Smith (19)
Astana: Dusan Ristic (20+11 rebounds), Jeremiah Hill (17+6 assists), Malcolm Hill (17), Coty Clarke (12)
Story
Kazan started well getting double-digit lead in no time. But Clarke’s 5 points and Zhigulin’s three-pointer equalized the game in the second quarter 21:21. However, UNICS with the efforts of Jamar Smith and Errick McCollum took the lead back. By the halftime, they were 10 points ahead 37:27.
This story was going rounds in the third quarter. Rajkovikj’s side used tactics to cut the gap to 5-6 points, but UNICS ran away. The end of the quarter was nervous as Dusan Ristic and Jeremiah Hill made it only -3. But UNICS responded with another run finished with Evgeny Kolesnikov’s three-pointer 5 seconds before the third quarter buzzer. Again, they were 9 points ahead.
Key moment
The guests could save the game two minutes before the buzzer. Two three-pointers of Jeremiah Hill transformed +12 into +6. And later Malcolm Hill shot from beyond the arc that making it 72:67. However, Errick McCollum found no troubles making four free throws in a row, and Jamar Smith closed the case with a three-pointer. 81:72, UNICS starts with a win.
Hero
Errick McCollum. UNICS’s guard was competing for the top scorer of the game against Jamar Smith and Astana’s Dusan Ristic. McCollum needed only 21 minutes to win the battle.
Stat
42:27. UNICS dominated in rebounds. Kazan scored 11 second point chances, Astana scored none, and this was what they lacked.
