The opening quarter was intense and packed with action. Lokomotiv started strong with a 9–4 run, but Astana quickly settled in. Andrey Desyatnikov made a big impact in the paint with a couple of powerful dunks and an and-one that boosted the team’s confidence. Daniel Utomi was flawless on offense, scoring 7 points with 100% shooting, and Grigory Motovilov kept pushing the tempo. The teams were locked at 24:24 after the first ten minutes.
In the second quarter, the home side tried to pull away again, but Gleb Plotnikov’s squad stayed locked in. Astana ramped up the defence, making it tough for Lokomotiv to score easy points. Galin Smith brought more physicality, and Motovilov kept slicing through the defence. By halftime, the deficit was just two — 42:40.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point. Lokomotiv found a rhythm and went on a run to stretch their lead. Still, Astana kept fighting — Smith and Utomi led the offensive push, and a strong and-one play from Askar Maydekin kept the hope of a comeback alive. Heading into the final frame, the score was 73:61.
The last quarter turned into a three-point shootout. Lokomotiv stayed sharp, but Astana responded well — Pokhodyaev, Murzagaliev, and Shcherbak all hit from deep to keep the pressure on. The team fought hard right until the final buzzer. Huge thanks to the 300 Kazakh fans in the stands — like a wall of support, they stood strong all game, creating an unforgettable atmosphere!
Lokomotiv-Kuban – Astana 102:82 (24:24, 18:16, 31:21, 29:21)
Astana: Daniel Utomi (18 points, +22 efficiency), Galin Smith (13 points), Grigory Motovilov (12 points, 6 assists), Andrey Desyatnikov (12 points, 7 rebounds)
Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of BC Astana:
— “As Grisha said, we can take some positives from this one — we shot well overall, but when you lose the rebounding battle and turn the ball over 24 times, it’s hard to compete. That’s our reality right now. Lokomotiv is one of the most athletic teams in the league, and going toe-to-toe with them is a real challenge. What really stood out today was the incredible support from our fans — I was genuinely surprised and very grateful.”
Grigory Motovilov, BC Astana guard:
— “The first half was solid for us, apart from the turnovers and rebounding. But that’s the thing — they were bigger and more athletic, and it showed. We had 24 turnovers, and if we’d had half that, it could’ve been a different game. When we followed the coach’s plan and played as a team, we showed solid basketball — the kind of basketball our fans enjoyed. We’re really thankful for that support.”
Next up for Astana: April 5, 15:00 at Saryarka Velodrome — we take on Parma. Don’t miss it!
 «Samruk-Kazyna» National Welfare Fund |
 Uniform operator «Tourism Industry and Sports Support Fund» |
