Playoffs or Play-In?
Avtodor continues to fight for a spot in the VTB United League playoffs, currently sitting in 8th place with a record of 15 wins and 22 losses. Just above them are Parma and Pari NN in 6th and 7th place respectively, each with 16 wins, meaning the playoff race is wide open.
In their last five games, Milenko Bogicevic’s team has secured two wins—against MBA-MAI (85:95) and Samara (74:90)—but fell to Parma (79:73), CSKA (69:87) and Zenit (91:68).
With only a few games remaining in the regular season, Avtodor faces a tough stretch, including matches against UNICS, Lokomotiv-Kuban, and Pari NN. To keep their direct playoff hopes alive, every win will count.
A Battle in the Paint?
In the opening minutes of the Avtodor vs. Zenit game, Artem Klimenko (214 cm) delivered a powerful dunk, earning the top spot in the VTB League’s Top 10 plays of the week. Fans will be watching closely to see if he can repeat something similar against Andrey Desyatnikov.
Supporting Klimenko off the bench is Turkish centre Kerem Kanter, who is averaging 12.7 points per game this season. He made a notable impact in the game against Samara, recording 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 32 efficiency points, which earned him a spot in the VTB League’s Team of the Week (February 28 – March 2).
By the Way
Daniel Utomi is just 14 points away from reaching 500 points for Astana this season—a milestone he could hit in this game.
Head-to-Head History
The teams have faced off 26 times in the VTB United League, with Avtodor winning 18 and Astana claiming 8 victories. The last time Astana defeated Avtodor was on December 13, 2022 with a narrow 70:69 win.
Comment from Acting Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov:
«We’re up against a well-coached and disciplined team. For us, it will be important not to lose the rebounding battle, minimise turnovers, make quick and smart decisions, and execute a structured offence. I invite all fans to come support us at the Velotrack!»
Match Details:
Date & Time: March 21, 20:00
Venue: Saryarka Velotrack, Astana
Broadcast: Available on the club website
