Kalev Estonia defeated Enisey Russia on the road, 91-88 (21-23, 27-23, 17-27, 26-15).
Top Scorers
Enisey: Zabian Dowdell (16 + 7 ast), Suleiman Braimoh (15), Anthony Hilliard (14)
Kalev: Isaiah Briscoe (20 + 6 reb + 7 ast), Branko Mirkovic (20), Kristjan Kangur (10 + 6 reb)
Story
Branko Mirkovic drained the game-winning 3 and Kalev’s defense limited Enisey to four points over the final four minutes, giving the visitors a 91-88 win in frigid Krasnoyarsk.
The temperature was -37 outside at tip-off and Kalev began the game ice-cold, trailing 9-0 after two minutes.
The Estonians bounced back with improved defense and a reliable mid-range game. Sten Sokk knocked down Kalev’s first triple of the game to knot the score at 21-21 with 1:23 remaining in the opening period.
The 2nd quarter was tightly contested. Both teams shot well from the perimeter, knocking down three 3-pointers each. Enisey did a better job taking care of the ball, while Kalev used an advantage on the glass to ease into halftime with a 48-46 lead.
The 3rd quarter belonged to the home team. Krasnoyarsk outscored Tallinn by 10, 27-17 with Denis Zakharov coming off the bench to put up nine points.
Trailing 73-65 to open the 4th, Kalev was down as much as 11 early in the period. But improved defense and a big 4th quarter from shooting guard Branko Mirkovic proved the key to a comeback.
After Suleiman Braimoh put Enisey on top, 86-82, with 3:21 to play, the home team would only score two more points the rest of the way.
Kalev went in front thanks to three consecutive trips to the free-throw line, knocking down six in a row. With the score tied at 88-88, Mirkovic drained the go-ahead 3-pointer at the top of the key, 91-88.
Enisey had multiple chances to tie the game over the final 1:35, including a last-gasp effort from Vitali Liutych, but couldn’t convert, giving Kalev an impressive come-from-behind win in Siberia.
The Estonians improve to 4-9, while Enisey drops to 3-8.
Stat
65% – Enisey’s free-throw percentage. The home team missed nine freebies.
Quotes
Enisey head coach Oleg Okulov:
– This is an upsetting loss, but it was deserved because you need to play 40 minutes, not 35. We played hard most of the game. But at the end we almost stopped playing even though our best players were on the court.
Kalev head coach Donaldas Kairys:
– It wasn’t easy because Enisey plays well at home. We played really hard, battled for rebounds and were able to win the glass against an athletic opponent. I’m very proud of my players.
Up Next
Enisey: January 28 home vs. Lokomotiv-Kuban
Kalev: February 12 home vs. UNICS
Photos
