Astana started the game with determination, putting up a strong fight in the first quarter. The beginning of the match was especially productive for Andrey Desyatnikov and Danila Pokhodyaev, both of whom managed to score seven points in the first ten minutes. Towards the end of the quarter, excellent defensive actions by Vadim Shcherbak helped reduce the deficit to a minimum. The scoreboard showed 24:27, with Lokomotiv leading by three points.
The intensity remained high in the second quarter, and at one point, Astana narrowed the gap to just three points again. However, maintaining that momentum proved difficult, and midway through the period, Lokomotiv took control. Isaiah Whaley caused the most trouble for Astana during this stretch, with his scoring helping the opponents establish a ten-point lead. By halftime, the gap had widened to 17 points.
After halftime, the game’s tempo slowed considerably. Astana tried to mount a comeback with long-range shots, and there were moments when our big men made key steals in the paint, but Lokomotiv quickly shut down those opportunities. On the positive side, passes to Galin Smith were connecting, allowing him to finish with powerful dunks. However, a major challenge for Astana was Patrick Miller’s sharp shooting in the third quarter, as he consistently hit his three-pointers. By the end of the period, Lokomotiv had extended their lead to 21 points (74:53).
Astana – Lokomotiv-Kuban 70:99 (24:27, 14:28, 15:19, 17:25)
Astana: Danila Pokhodyaev (14), Grigory Motovilov (13 points + 8 assists), Galin Smith (9 points + 7 rebounds), Andrey Desyatnikov (9 points + 7 rebounds), Rustam Murzagaliev (9 points).
Lokomotiv-Kuban: Isaiah Whaley (18 points), Patrick Miller (14 points + 7 assists), Kirill Temirov (14 points).
Comment from acting head coach of PBC Astana, Gleb Plotnikov:
“We absolutely failed defensively; the game plan was not executed. Lokomotiv-Kuban is the fastest-running team, and they proved it to us today. As for our offense, I am satisfied despite the score difference. The guys moved the ball well, as shown by our 21 assists. We also won the rebounding battle on their glass—three more rebounds than them. However, 17 turnovers are too many. Additionally, the absence of Daniel Utomi and Alexander Orazbekov had an impact. Our schedule is very tight, so there isn’t enough time for recovery, which leads to injuries. Unfortunately, we can’t afford to rest our players to help them recover. On top of that, our local players are with the national team, meaning they have no breaks.”
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