Preview: Pari Nizhny Novgorod vs. Astana

Off to Nizhny

The schedule is so packed that Gleb Plotnikov’s team barely has time to rest. Right after a challenging match with «Loko,» a team competing for the top spots in the VTB United League, «Astana» is heading out to face «Pari Nizhny Novgorod.» Let’s look at their strengths and weaknesses.

Solid mid-tier contender

«Pari Nizhny Novgorod» could be best described as a solid mid-tier team in the 2024/2025 season. Sergei Kozin’s squad has proven they can go neck-to-neck with the league’s top teams. On October 5, they defeated CSKA at the last second (77:75) on their home court, narrowly lost to «Zenit» in a tough road game (81:78), and gave Kazan’s Velimir Perasovic’s team a hard-fought game (73:81). They currently hold fifth place in the standings, with 7 wins and 6 losses.

The legacy of Zoran Lukic or a new approach?

For many, Nizhny Novgorod is synonymous with a core lineup featuring players from the Russian national team. This year, with the arrival of Lukic’s assistant, Sergei Kozin, there have been some shifts in focus. Andrey Vorontsevich joined «Zenit,» Mikhail Belenitsky finished last season with «UNICS,» and Vladimir Ivlev recently signed with «Uralmash.» However, fans can still see well-known Russian national team players from the David Blatt and Evgeny Pashutin eras, such as Dmitry Khvostov (averaging 19 minutes) and Evgeny Baburin (21 minutes).

The team added another national team player this season: point guard Alexander Khomenko (17 minutes, 4.5 points per game), who joined «Nizhny» from MBA.  He poses a tough defensive challenge for opponents and offers support to fellow point guard Dmitry Khvosto in the frontcourt. Coach Kozin has American players Zak Nuttall (23 minutes, 12.0 points per game), previously with «Široki» in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Aubrey Dawkins (11.9 points), son of NBA legend Johnny Dawkins. Aubrey’s buzzer-beater against CSKA already secured a memorable win for the team.

Rotation issues or a new coaching style?

While Nizhny Novgorod’s teamwork is strong, not all players have found their footing in Sergei Kozin’s system. Firstly, Casey Shepard, an American player, has been dealing with a chronic knee injury, and some sources suggest he may be out for the rest of the season. Secondly, power forward JaKeenan Gant recently left the team amid rumors of a possible signing with «Lokomotiv-Kuban.» Lastly, Ilya Karpenkov, a Tokyo 2020 silver medalist in 3x3, has had modest stats (averaging 8 minutes), having joined «Nizhny» from «Khimki» in the Superleague.

Head-to-head history

The teams have met 26 times, with «Pari Nizhny Novgorod» leading the rivalry with 21 wins to «Astana’s» 5. In the 2024/2025 season, «Astana» hosted «Nizhny» but fell short with a score of 62:90.

Comments

Alexander Orazbekov, Point Guard for «Astana»: «Pari Nizhny Novgorod is a strong opponent, currently in fifth place. But we’re fighting for a win. My goal remains the same—to execute the coach’s strategy and play my game. I appreciate the coaching staff’s trust, which boosts my confidence. I feel my progress, but it wouldn’t be possible without the team’s support.»

Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of «Astana»: «Pari Nizhny Novgorod is a fundamentally strong team, with a core group of Russian players who have played together for a long time, complemented by well-chosen international players. As before, we need to focus on our game, avoid repeating the same mistakes, and play with full dedication. Only then can we achieve results.»

Match details:

Teams: Pari Nizhny Novgorod vs. Astana
Date and time: November 13, 21:00
Venue: Nizhny Novgorod, Nagorny Sports Centre
Broadcast: PBK Astana website and VTB United League website