Avtodor defeated Astana at home — 83:82 (20:31, 27:20, 20:10, 16:21).
The best scorers:
Avtodor: Zeljko Sakic (22 + 5 assists), Kenny Chery (13 + 6 rebounds), DJ Funderburk (11 + 7 rebounds)
Astana: Jaylen Barford (26 + 5 rebounds), Anthony Hickey (21 + 8 rebounds + 6 assists + 5 steals)
Game progress
Avtodor, with three wins in four games, is seriously aiming for a place in the top three. However, the starting 10-minute remained for the guests. After an equal start of the quarter, Jaylen Barford initiated a powerful run 13:2 by Astana. By the first break, Astana had a confident double-digit lead – 31:18, and Barford scored 9 points.
After Bazhin’s shot at the beginning of the second quarter, the difference reached the maximum +15 – the guests lead. But Avtodor had already come to their senses by this time and rushed in pursuit. The Saratov team’s run was led by Philip Scrubb and DJ Funderburk, and Pavel Sergeev’s three-point shot reduced the hosts’ gap to just -4. The swing began: Astana instantly regained a double-digit lead, but at the end of the first half Sergeev and Sakic again reduced the difference to 4 points — 51:47 Astana lead by the halftime.
🔥 @BarfordJaylen & @OFFsetHick_ combine for 31 points in 1st Half vs Avtodor! pic.twitter.com/M5CRA8LIHV
— VTB League (@VTBUL) November 7, 2021
But in the third quarter, guests’ offence had completely gone — in 9 minutes Astana managed to score only 7 points. Avtodor came ahead and began to build up the gap. Only in the last minute of the quarter, Barford helped his team get back into the game with a three-point shot – 67:61.
The key moment
By the middle of the final quarter, Astana began to gradually regain the initiative. And-one by Anthony Hickey returned the lead to Astana for the first time since the second quarter, but Zeljko Sakic answered Hickey’s effective shots. Minute left until the end of the game when Sakic and Barford exchanged three-point shots, alternately taking their teams up ahead. 13 seconds before the buzzer, with Avtodor trailing by 1 point, Philip Scrubb rushed to the opponent’s rim and put the winning lay-up. Anthony Hickey missed his buzzer beater shot. Emil Rajkovicj beats his former team for the first time in a ‘playoff game’ level, and the Saratov team continues to chase the Top-3.
Hero
Zeljko Sakic. Avtodor leader attacks in this game repeatedly provoked opponents to foul him and demonstrated steel nerves — 12 out of 13 free-throw attempts. And at the end of the game, Sakic scored a deciding three-pointer.
Numbers
106 points in the first 4 games – Jaylen Barford sets a United League record for points at the start of the season.
Comments
Emil Rajkovicj, Avtodor Head Coach:
– It was a very interesting game for the fans. It’s a pity that they weren’t in the stands today, that they couldn’t support us and watch the game live. We knew that Astana is a very high-quality team this season, and they proved it again today. They led in the first half of the game and scored too many points. But then in the second half of the game we began to follow our game plan clearly, began to play better defensively and eventually found an opportunity to win. Of course, we like that the team has been winning 7 games, but it remains important to grow, to try to improve their game in every moment. Based on the results of today’s game, we have something to work on, I hope we will have time to make adjustments and show progress in the next games.
Darko Russo, Astana Head Coach:
– A tense game, we fought for all 40 minutes. Today we played against a team that scores 92 points average in the FIBA Europe Cup and 97 in the VTB League, that is, against a very attacking team. We were close to win, but the last shots did not reach the target. I am not happy with our defensive actions in Avtodor last two possessions. Anyway, we had chances, we did everything we discussed in the timeouts. I’m happy with how they would have fought. We need to be smarter and tougher in defense.
What’s next
Avtodor: November 21 away against Einsey
Astana: November 14 away versus UNICS
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