Astana travels to Nizhny Novgorod to face a team often described as a «solid mid-tier» competitor in the VTB United League. Here's an update on the teams and their current state.

How Strong is Nizhny's Roster?

In November’s matchup, Astana fought hard but fell short by 17 points (87:69). This time, the game might play out differently. Nizhny Novgorod is facing roster difficulties. American guard Aubrey Dawkins left the team in early January, and the club doesn’t plan to replace him. Head coach Sergey Kozin now relies on three foreign players: Zak Nuttall, Nemanja Djurisic, and Casey Shepherd, the latter recently returning from a long injury absence.

Additionally, point guard Dmitry Khvostov is out for six weeks after injuring his knee against Enisey, and captain Evgeny Baburin missed the game against Uralmash.

These challenges have led to six straight losses for Nizhny Novgorod against Avtodor (83:66), Lokomotiv-Kuban (101:86), MBA-MAI (84:76), Enisey (88:77), Zenit (94:79), and Uralmash (74:79). In response, the club is looking to adapt its game plan, starting with strengthening the shooting guard position. Today, Nizhny announced the addition of Igor Volkhin on loan from Zenit. While he didn’t find much opportunity under Xavi Pascual, Nizhny could give him the stage to shine.

Star Players

Zak Nuttall (17.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals) will represent Nizhny in the «Guests» lineup at the VTB United League All-Star Game, also replacing injured Zenit player Xavier Mun in the slam dunk contest. Dmitry Khvostov is set to feature in the «Hosts» lineup, though his participation remains uncertain due to injury.

Head-to-Head Record

The teams have had 27 games, with Nizhny winning 22 and Astana claiming victory in 5 games. Astana's last win over Nizhny was on December 15, 2023, with a score of 92:61.

Comments

Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach:

«Nizhny Novgorod is a tough opponent with an aggressive defensive style. While they’re dealing with roster issues, I believe this only motivates them further and makes them an even tougher challenge.»

Danila Pokhodaev, Astana Player:

«Nizhny Novgorod is a great team with strong local and international players. They’ve been playing impressive basketball this season. We’re preparing with focus and aiming for a win.»

Match: Pari Nizhny Novgorod vs Astana
January 26, 2025, 6:00 pm
Venue: Nagorny Sports Complex, Nizhny Novgorod
Broadcast: Club website, VTB United League website

This game can undoubtedly be marked as a positive for our team, as the players battled fiercely from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Against «Nizhny,» we came heartbreakingly close to victory.

From the start, the «Nagorny» Arena in Nizhny Novgorod hosted a fiercely contested game, as evidenced by the evenly matched first-quarter score of 16:16. The opening moments were defined by strong defence and a controlled tempo. The standout moment of the game—and perhaps the entire week in the VTB United League—was Grigory Motovilov’s jaw-dropping buzzer-beater from beyond half-court!

In the second quarter, Gleb Plotnikov's team encountered defensive pressure from their opponents, which made it increasingly difficult for Astana to score. Nizhny seized the opportunity and extended their advantage to a comfortable 12-point lead.

After the break, the hosts extended their advantage even more as Nemanja Djurisic scored seven consecutive points. However, the tide soon shifted. Our team seized the initiative, cutting the deficit to six points. Pokhodayev nailed mid-range shots, Smith delivered a powerful dunk, and Aitkali, Motovilov, and Utomi hit critical three-pointers to keep us in the game.

Early in the final quarter, Nizhny regained a double-digit lead, but Astana refused to back down. Rustam Murzagaliev contributed with points following a steal, Pokhodayev nailed mid-range jumpers, and Andrei Desyatnikov held firm on defence, blocking opponents' attempts in the paint. The star of the comeback attempt was Daniel Utomi, who hit two incredible three-pointers in succession, finishing with a career-high 29 points. The team cut the deficit to just four points, but unfortunately, a late foul disrupted the rhythm, leaving no time to turn the game around.

Final Score:
«Nizhny Novgorod» — «Astana» 66:62
(16:16, 22:10, 13:17, 15:19)

«Nizhny Novgorod» Highlights:
Nemanja Djurisic: 23 points, 7 rebounds
Alexander Khomenko: 17 points
Sergey Zotkin: 7 points, 5 assists

«Astana» Highlights:
Daniel Utomi: 29 points
Grigory Motovilov: 16 points, 4 assists
Danila Pokhodayev: 7 points, 10 rebounds


Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach, BC «Astana»:

«We played well overall, except for the second quarter, where we lost focus and reverted to individual play. Turnovers and offensive rebounds decided the game. Nizhny had the advantage in size, height, and physicality. I can’t say my team didn’t fight for the rebounds; the rivals were clearly stronger in that aspect.»