Fans at the Saryarka Velodrome witnessed a true basketball thriller as Astana faced Pari Nizhny Novgorod. The teams competed to the very last second, pushing the game into overtime. Despite a tense finish, Gleb Plotnikov’s squad delivered one of their most remarkable performances of the season.
The first quarter unfolded at a high pace, with both teams battling for control. Astana started strong with a 5-0 run, but the visitors quickly turned the tide with a 14-0 surge. However, the home team managed to disrupt their opponent's rhythm, preventing them from fully taking over the game. By the end of the quarter, Pari NN led 26:16.
In the second quarter, Ilya Karpenkov played a key role in Nizhny Novgorod’s offense, scoring six points in the opening minutes. Astana quickly adjusted, with Andrey Desyatnikov making crucial plays, Daniel Utomi hitting a three-pointer, and Grigory Motovilov adding energy to the attack. As a result, Astana won the quarter 22:20, cutting the deficit before halftime to 38:46.
The third quarter was a true testament to Astana’s resilience. The score gap shifted between -13 and -5, but the home team kept pushing forward. T.J. Starks attacked the basket with determination, Grigory Motovilov connected from beyond the arc, and solid defensive play allowed Astana to take the quarter 20:17, narrowing the deficit to just five points at 58:63.
In the final quarter, Astana kept up the defensive pressure. A 7-0 run brought the game to a tie, with Vladislav Isayenko’s impact on the court proving vital. Soon after, a three-pointer by Danila Pokhodyaev put Astana ahead. The final moments were incredibly intense, with both teams exchanging baskets as the game came down to the wire. Astana edged the fourth quarter 22:17, sending the match into overtime.
In the extra five minutes, every possession was crucial. Scoring was low (2:4), and unfortunately, luck favored Pari NN. Despite an intense effort, the visitors secured the victory in this hard-fought battle.
Final Score:
Astana – Pari Nizhny Novgorod 82:84 (16:26, 22:20, 20:17, 22:17, 2:4 OT)
Top Performers:
Astana: T.J. Starks (23 points, 4 assists), Grigory Motovilov (19 points, 5 assists), Daniel Utomi (14 points, 8 rebounds), Danila Pokhodyaev (11 points, 9 rebounds).
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Nemanja Djurisic (19 points, 6 rebounds), Ilya Karpenkov (15 points, 7 rebounds), Alexander Khomenko (15 points, 3 steals), Matic Rebec (11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals).
Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of Astana:
«We completely lost the battle on the scoreboard. Looking at the stats, Nizhny Novgorod had 83 shot attempts compared to our 55. When you give your opponent that many extra possessions, it's hard to expect a win. Despite that, we showed some strong numbers. We can't call this match a success—it was tough both physically and emotionally—but it also proved that the work we are doing is paying off. We are on the right track.»
T.J. Starks, Astana Point Guard:
«I'm happy with my performance. This was only my second game of the season, as I missed half the year due to injury. There was some fatigue, but I pushed through it. I feel good, and after months of hard work to get back into game shape, I hope to keep building on this momentum.»
