UNICS defeated Uralmash at home – 94:71 (21:25, 28:15, 22:15, 23:16).

Game progress
From the very first minutes, the guests showed great motivation, controlled the game and won the opening quarter. The game was equal with several lead changes throughout the second quarter. But then Rostislav Vergun team offense fell apart. UNICS used the situation and was led by DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, who scored 17 points by halftime. An almost perfect first half by Uralmash ended with a rather comfortable lead by the Kazan team – 49:40.

Key moment
Akoon-Purcell scored 7 points in a row at the start of the second half, which helped UNICS to increase the lead led to 10 points for the first time in the game, and after Jalen Reynolds came off the bench, the difference became 20 points.

Nikita Balashov three-point buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter didn’t change the situation – the Kazan team quickly regained a 20-point lead and held it for the rest of the game. UNICS surpasses Zenit in the standings and moves into 2nd place.

X-factor
Uralmash is one of the best teams in the League in turnovers per game (11.7 – ahead of only Zenit and UNICS). However, in today’s game the Yekaterinburg team players made an unusual number of turnovers (18), and this led to UNICS run before the halftime. The Kazan team made only 7  turnovers.

Facts
The Kazan team is going undefeated against Uralmash – 5 wins in 5 games.

UNICS’ 9 straight wins are the longest active streak in the VTB League.

Leaders
UNICS: DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell (25 + 5 rebounds), Marcos Knight (19), Jalen Reynolds (12), Andrey Lopatin (11), Tony Taylor (7 + 8 assists + 3 steals), Ismael Bako (4 + 8 rebounds).
Uralmash: Javonte Douglas (15 + 6 rebounds + 3 steals), Jeremiah Martin (13), Tyrell Nelson (13), Stanley Whittaker (13).

What’s next
UNICS: January 15 at home against Astana
Uralmash: January 15 on the road versus Avtodor.