UNICS beat MBA in the regular season game on the road – 97:81 (22:19, 23:19, 22:26, 30:17).
The best scorers:
MBA: Vladislav Odinokov (15), Daniil Kasatkin (14), Aleksandr Khomenko (8 + 6 assists)
UNICS: Jalen Reynolds (30 + 5 steals), Louis Labeyrie (18 + 10 rebounds), Viacheslav Zaitsev (12), Vince Hunter (10), Nenad Dmitrijevic (8 + 11 assists)
Game progress
The League newcomers lost to PARMA-PARI and CSKA after three wins at the start. UNICS had a 5-0 before the game.
The first quarter was tight and equal. The Kazan team actively used their performers, the Moscow team counted on dedication and tried to play against UNICS on both ends. UNICS class affected at the beginning of the second quarter. Jalen Reynolds initiated the impulse of the team with points and then Viacheslav Zaitsev scored a three and made a spectacular dunk in the fast-break – 10:0 run and 32:19.
MBA managed to slow down UNICS after a timeout and 7 points in a row by Evgeniy Valiev brought the Moscow team back into the game. The first half had high pace and ended 45:38, the Kazan team led.
After the halftime, the game has not changed fundamentally. MBA looked great against one of the best teams in the League, and even reduced the difference with 4 there-pointers. Before the fourth quarter, UNICS lead was only 3 points. The start of the fourth quarter reminded the start of the second quarter. UNICS held several defensive possessions with maximum intensity, Reynolds scored a 3-pointer, Louis Labeyrie posterised the defender and Mikhail Kulagin ended this run with fast -break three – 8:0 run and 75:64 on the scoreboard.
The key moment
The main difference was that after the timeout, UNICS continued to build up the lead. The Kazan team had great defense and Dmitrijevic – Reynolds duo got the back of the team in offense. Then, UNICS made four more effective possessions, Reynolds scored 3 more times, and every time the Dmitrijevic was an assistant. By the middle of the fourth quarter, UNICS lead was 16 points, the question of the winner was removed. MBA lost for the third time in a row (3-3), UNICS got a 100% win record (6-0).
Hero
Jalen Reynolds. UNICS leader in offense caused problems to MBA both in the paint and at three-point line. The bigman was the inspiration for two important Kazan team runs. Jalen got 30 points for the second time in his career in the League (10 of 16 from the game), and also had 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 steals.
Numbers
6 – UNICS won all games in the new season. UNICS and CSKA are undefeated at the moment.
What’s next
MBA: road game versus Pari Nizhny Novgorod on October 31
UNICS: home game against Avtodor on November 1
