CSKA beat Astana on the road – 91:48 (29:18, 18:12, 28:12, 16:6).
Game progress
The guests started the game with an 11-point lead already in the first 5 minutes. The hosts managed to equalize the game.
The second quarter had the same scenario. Fotis Takianos timeout stopped the Moscow team, but the difference was 19 points already.
In the absence of Markell Johnson and T.J. Starks, Grigory Motovilov led Astana. The guard made his first assist only midway through the second quarter.
Key moment
CSKA came out after the halftime even more focused on defense. Astana was unable to score for more than 6 minutes, missing a 20:0 run (30:67). The 6-minute offensive drought was repeated in the final quarter. CSKA has averaged 101 points in the last 5 games with Astana, but couldn’t break that this time. Nevertheless, the Moscow team winning streak continued – 43-point difference and 4th win in a row.
X-factor
The best and worst teams in the League in rebounds played. The trend continued: the guests outscored the hosts in rebounds – 51-27.
The tallest player in the League Andrey Desyatnikov, who joined Astana this summer, is still recovering from an injury sustained during training camp and was unable to help his team improve.
Astana showed historically low two-point shooting, making 3 of 26 (11.5%).
Facts
The 43-point win is the repeat of the season-high. Before that, Lokomotiv Kuban also got similar difference versus Kazakh team.
Astana could not win against the Moscow team. CSKA has won all 29 head-to-head games.
Astana has already lost 4 games at the start of the season, it was in the 2017/18 season. The next home game with Avtodor will give the club a chance to avoid the club’s worst result.
48 points scored is the worst performance so far this VTB League season.
Leaders
Astana: Daniel Utomi (15), Rustam Murzagaliev (9).
CSKA: Amath M’Baye (16), Casper Ware (16 + 5 rebounds), Livio Jean-Charles (13 + 6 rebounds), Tonye Jekiri (10 + 6 rebounds).
What’s next
Astana: October 6 at home versus Avtodor
CSKA: October 5 on the road against Pari Nizhny Novgorod.
