The game kicked off at a high tempo, with both teams trading quick three-pointers early in the first quarter. For our team, Daniel Utomi and Danila Pokhodyaev stood out. On the opponent’s side, Tyrell Nelson caused us serious trouble—he was essentially the one who pulled the Astana team into this battle. Additionally, Vyacheslav Zaitsev was accurate from beyond the arc. This shooting efficiency allowed Uralmash to make a small run. The second half of the first quarter slowed down, with the game becoming more defensive, which helped us close the gap slightly—26:13.
The second quarter posed significant challenges for us. Despite our players’ attempts to maintain a 10-point gap—bolstered by Murzagaliev’s three-pointers and Motovilov’s drives—Uralmash steadily extended their lead. Astana struggled offensively, enduring a scoring drought for several minutes, while Yekaterinburg’s well-executed plays proved highly effective. 57:29 at halftime.
The final ten minutes (19:12) followed the same pattern as the rest of the match. Utomi, Smith, and Motovilov tried to challenge the opponent and bring back some intrigue, but it wasn’t enough. The difference in game pace, dynamics, and shooting percentage was too significant.
Uralmash – Astana – 99:58 (26:13, 31:16, 23:17, 19:12)
Top performers:
• Daniel Utomi (16 points + 9 rebounds)
• Grigory Motovilov (14 points + 6 assists)
• Danila Pokhodyaev (13 points + 4 rebounds)
Acting Head Coach of Astana, Gleb Plotnikov:
“Congratulations to Uralmash on the victory. 26 turnovers—we couldn’t handle the pressure. Uralmash is in excellent physical shape. Additionally, as I mentioned in my pre-game interview, I didn’t have the opportunity to prepare with the optimal lineup, but we are not looking for excuses. We will analyze this game and move forward.”
 «Samruk-Kazyna» National Welfare Fund |
 Uniform operator «Tourism Industry and Sports Support Fund» |
