Astana defeated MINSK at home – 78:74 (15:18, 15:20, 21:15, 27:21).
Game progress
From the beginning of the game, Astana started to have problems with making shots. Markell Johnson and Carvel Anderson had 0 points combined with 0 of 10 from the game until the 19th minute. MINSK starting five showed excellent shooting (10 of 17), and won the first half – 38:30.
The third quarter started with the hosts 7-0 run, but MINSK immediately responded with 8 points. Johnson switched on for Astana: the American guard scored layups time after time, but the Kazakh team was still catching up.
Key momeant
The difference was only 2 points – 51:53. Astana was one possession away from taking the lead for the first time in the game, but after just over 6 minutes of game time, MINSK lead only increased to 7 points.
Then the hosts made a decisive comeback attempt: Devin Davis made a three-pointer, Anderson free-throws and Royce Hamm layup equalized – 69-69! Vadzim Stubeda gave MINSK the lead, but hot Astana was unstoppable: 9 points in a row from Anderson and Hamm sealed the hosts win.
X-factor
Carvel Anderson and Markell Johnson only had 2 points combined in the first half. However, they helped in Astana comeback a lot: crucial shots in the end and 30 points combined.
Fact
Royce Hamm made his first double-double of the season.
Leaders
Astana: Carvel Anderson (17), Royce Hamm (16 + 13 rebounds), Markell Johnson (13 + 7 assists + 5 rebounds), Adam Kunkel (12), Devin Davis (11 + 5 rebounds).
MINSK: Uladzislau Mikulski (14), Jakob Cebasek (13 + 6 rebounds), Grigory Motovilov (13)
What’s next
Astana (5-4): November 19 on the road against PARMA
MINSK (0-10): November 18 at home versus Zenit.
