The lesson after yesterday

In Week 16 of the regular season of VTB United league, Spartak (Russia) rolled by Astana (Kazakhstan) at home, 74-57. The home team seized control from the start and didn’t allow their opponent to close the gap on the way to a win.

Photos

Intro
Astana’s sensational win yesterday had an impact on the Group A standings. Jurij Zdovc’s men lost any realistic hope of finishing first, while the Kazakh team gained additional motivation. If they could win the second game, they would join Spartak in fourth place.

The home team learned from their mistakes the day before and tried to seize control early. Solid defense helped Spartak neutralize Astana. The ball ended up in David Simon’s hands most of the time, who had to take on the Red-Whites practically on his own. When Simon went to the bench, Spartak scored five unanswered and ended the first quarter on top, 18-13.

The second quarter provided more of the same. David Simon had little help from his teammates and tried to keep the team afloat on his own. He had 17 of his team’s first 28 points. Janis Strelniek’s two 3-pointers to end the half gave Spartak a double-digit lead, 38-28.

A 10-2 run to start the third quarter gave the crowd more to cheer about. Spartak’s lead grew to 18 points and it appeared the Russians had the game under control. David Simon and Anatoly Kolesnikov felt differently, however. They combined for eight straight points to give Astana a chance heading into the fourth quarter – 53-41 in favor of Spartak.

Turning Point
In the decisive quarter, Astana failed to cut into the lead. Yaroslav Korolev and Joshua Carter punished their opponent from beyond the arc, while Loukas Mavrokefalidis took care of the Kazakh big men down low. In the end, Spartak enjoyed revenge for yesterday’s loss, 74-57. Now Jurij Zdovc’s team has guaranteed at least fourth place in the group.

Star of the Game
Zack Wright. The American guard took advantage of the freedom given him to create on offense. His eccentric play helped Spartak secure a convincing win, and he recorded an impressive 17 points (57% field-goal percentage), five rebounds, two assists and four steals.

Stat of the Game
17% - Astana’s three-point field-goal percentage. Unlike last night, the Kazakh team could not convert at an efficient rate from beyond the arc.

Top Performers
Spartak: Zack Wright – 17 points, five rebounds; Joshua Carter – 15 points; Loukas Mavrokefalidis – 13 points, 12 rebounds; Janis Strelnieks – 13 points.

Astana: David Simon – 23 points, eight rebounds; Branco Cvetcovic – 10 points, five rebounds.