Avtodor beat Astana at home — 94:72 (25:15, 22:15, 25:19, 22:23).
The best scorers
Avtodor: Ryan Boatwright (18 + 5 rebounds + 6 assists), Nikita Mikhailovskii (15 + 7 rebounds), Nikola Rebic (13 + 6 assists), Evgeniy Minchenko (12 + 6 rebounds), Aleksandr Petenev (11), Brandon Garrett (11 + 10 rebounds)
Astana: Daniil Aksenov (21 + 6 rebounds + 5 assists), Valery Likhodei (11 + 5 rebounds), Askar Maidekin (10)
Game progress
For the first Avtodor game in the regular season, the team was led by a new head coach — Milos Pavicevic, appointed literally the day before, the game was the debut as the head coach in the United League team.
The start of the game was equal: Daniil Aksenov responded to Ryan Boatwright actions with shots made. But by the middle of the first quarter, the hosts began to gain the lead. A three-point shot by veteran Evgeny Kolesnikov was the beginning of the Saratov team 12:2 run. And another three-pointer from Boatright and Evgeniy Minchenko two points led Avtodor finish the starting quarter with a double-digit lead – 25:15.
In the second quarter, the hosts began to build up their advantage. Avtodor’s defense practically did not fail: Astana, which played without the legionnaires, scored only two points in four minutes. Soon the difference has already reached 20 points. Daniil Aksenov tried to make his team back in the game, but until the end of the first half, the Kazakh team did not manage to make it – 47:30.
After the halftime, the Saratov team continued firing from behind the arc – Nikita Mikhailovskii, Boatright and Kolesnikov scored. Avtodor snipers caught the courage — all Astana attempts to score ended with another three-point run by the hosts. The final 10 minutes, which began with 72:49, was a formality. Avtodor and the new head coach of the team gave their fans the win in the first game of the season.
Hero
Ryan Boatwright. Avtodor point guard did not let the guests’ defense stop him and got the great stats — 18 + 6 + 5 in 32 minutes.
Numbers
43 rebounds — the total domination of Avtodor. Astana was able to get 26 rebounds.
What’s next
Avtodor: home game against Pari Nizhny Novgorod on October 9
Astana: home game against MBA on October 9
