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.»
