UNICS defeated Uralmash in Yekaterinburg – 89:80 (27:19, 21:20, 26:22, 15:19).
Game progress
Uralmash had only 1 shot by the middle of the starting quarter. UNICS took an 8-point lead after a Marcos Knight three-pointer and maintained it through the first quarter – 27:19. Octavius Ellis was the only hosts player with more than a shot from the game – the American bigman scored 18 points (7 of 9 made shots). Javonte Douglas scored only 5 points (1 of 7). UNICS couldn’t guard the opponent’s leader, but rebounding allowed the guests to increase the lead before the second half – 48:39.
Uralmash put up a fight in the third quarter, but it wasn’t enough against the reigning champion. UNICS responded to every made shot.
Key moment
The Kazan team had a 13-point lead before the fourth quarter and controlled the game. However, Uralmash regained the intrigue: the hosts relied on three-pointers and cut the difference to 5 points after Anton Glazunov made shot. But Velimir Perasovic time-out threw off the hosts rhythm. Uralmash missed next 4 three-point shots – UNICS won and secured second place in the standings.
X-factor
UNICS’ defense had a key impact on the win. When Octavius Ellis, one of the MVP contenders, had perhaps his best game of the season, only Kirill Pisklov became the only Uralmash player, who managed to have a 100% shooting percentage (1 of 1).
The rest of the team made 29.8% from the game (14 of 47).
Fact
Ismael Bako made 6 blocks, set a career-high and repeated the League season-high.
Octavius Ellis finished the game with 41 eff. points – the second-high in the 2023/24 season.
Ellis also got his 5th double-double of the season and now shares the 1st place with Royce Hamm and Richard Solomon.
Leaders
Uralmash: Octavius Ellis (31 + 10 rebounds), Tyrell Nelson (11), Javonte Douglas (11), Garrett Nevels (10).
UNICS: Marcos Knight (24 + 5 rebounds + 5 assists), Erick Green (20), Jalen Reynolds (10 + 9 rebounds).
What’s next
Uralmash (8-9): December 21 on the road versus Lokomotiv Kuban
UNICS (12-4): December 21 at home against MINSK.
