Kalev beat Tsmoki-Minsk on the road – 80:72 (18:18, 17:15, 21:16, 24:23)
Top scorers
Tsmoki-Minsk: Andrei Stabrouski (16), Andrei Rahozenka (13), Kris Clyburn (11+5 rebounds)
Kalev: Janis Kaufmanis (23), Maurice Kemp (20+12 rebounds)
Story
Tsmoki started confidently: Kris Clyburn scored furst 7 team points. However, Kalev weren’t giving up, almost all quarter long Tsmoki were trying to gain comfortable lead and Kalev were answering with runs. During first quarter Minsk were 6-7 points ahead but by the end of the quarter Sten Sokk evened the score – 18:18.
The second quarter was like the first one, tight, slow, positioning and low-scoring basketball. However, Kalev started taking the game over, and the Dragons had to chase. By the half time the guests were up by 2 – 35:33.
Key moment
In the third quarter the game was the same, Tsmoki started the quarter well and Kalev showed perfect ending. It seemed like trio Yauheni Beliankou – Andrei Rahozenka – Andrei Stabrouski managed to break the game in Tsmoki’s favor, but a few moments before the break Janis Kaufmanis turned sniper mode on. Two three-point bombs put Kalev up ahead – 52:49 and by the final quarter Tallinn were up by 7.
It still wasn’t a critical difference, Robert Lowery converted 7 points into 4. The Dragons were trying to force clutch but Kaufmanis had his own plans. Hitting and-one he brought Kalev first double-digit lead of the game – 62:52. Th hosts had their own heroes, Rahozenka and Stabrouski weren’t giving up and cut the gap from 14 points to 5-6 a few times. However, Kaufmanis was unstoppable, via his performance Kalev didn’t allowed clutch. Tallinn take second victory of the season.
Hero
Janis Kaufmanis. Having a poor first half in the second he became a true MVP. He scored 15 points in the final quarter.
Stat
1 – first away victory by Kalev this season. Before that Tallinn lost in 6 consecutive games.
Comments
Tsmoki-Minsk head coach Rostislav Vergun:
– Congratulations to Kalev on the deserved victory. We weren’t careful at defense, it let the opponent score easy points. I think, the changes should be done to shake the team and finish the season more successfully.
Kalev head coach Roberts Stelmahers:
– It was a tough game. I am happy for my guys who stood tonight. It’s hard to win on the road. Every win the VTB United League for us is a big success. Besides, we came with cut roster as some players are still ill.
Next
Tsmoki-Minsk: January 30 vs UNICS
Kalev: January 29 vs Zielona Gora
Photo
