Astana beфt Zielona Gora at home – 92:80 (25:22, 23:15, 24:25, 20:18)
Top scorers
Astana: Malcolm Hill (25), Stephen Holt (14+5 rebounds), Aleksandr Zhigulin(12)
Zielona Gora: Ivica Radic (29+14 rebounds), Ludvig Hakanson (15+5 assists), Joe Thomasson (10+5 rebounds)
Story
Astana fight for return to the play-off zone, and Zielona Gora hold 6th spot. However, in case of Kazakhstan’s win they will not only catch up with Poland but outpace them. First quarter was tough – there were lots of lead changes, and maximum differential wasn’t more than 5 points. But in the next quarter the situation improved for the hosts. Stephen Holt drew 2 fouls and hit cold-blooded free throws, and after Rustam Murzagaliyev’s long-range shot and Malcolm Hill’s drive Astana’s lead turned double digits – 38:27. Hill and James Florence continued to bomb guests’ defence, and just before the big break Przemyslaw Zamojski cut the differential back to 11 points – 48:37.
❌ Джеффри Крокетт на защите кольца «Астаны» | Jeffrey Crockett protects the Astana's rim with the BLOCK!
Большой перерыв в Нур-Султане | Halftime in Nur-Sultan:@PBCAstana 48@basket_zg 37 pic.twitter.com/pDWwyt7Mfq
— VTB United League (@VTBUL) January 26, 2020
The second half started with offence – the difference started to increase and reached 17 points. The guests answered with Ivica Radic and Ludvig Hakanson efforts, they thied to reduce the gap all third quarter long. But in the beginning of the fourth Dusan Ristic and Jeffry Crockett duo underrated all the guests’ efforts, and Stephen Holt set symbolic gap – 20 points – 86:66. It was mission impossible for Zan Tabak’s squad. Zielona Gora lose to Emil Raikoikj’s team for the second time this season.
Hero
Malcolm Hill. Without rim-protector Drew Gordon the Polish couldn’t hold one of Astana’s leaders – while he was driving to the basket he drew fouls times and times again, hitting 11 free throws and became the top scorer on his roster (25 points).
Stat
100% – Astana’s free throw percentage. The hosts hit 24 of 24 tries. Their rivals hit 10 of 15.
Next
Astana: February 2 vs Tsmoki-Minsk
Zielona Gora: February 1 at Nizhny Novgorod
