VTB United League. BC Khimki vs. Astana — 83-6615 january 2017

Due to Todorovic's and Shved's double-doubles BC Khimki grabbed a very important home win over Astana Kazakhstan — 83-66 (23-17, 16-17, 21-18, 23-14). The next game our team will play in Germany vs. ratiopharm Ulm on Wednesday, January 18, 2017. Tip-off at 21:30 msk.

BC Khimki: Shved (23 + 11 assists + 3 rebounds + 2 steals), Todorovic (15 + 18 rebounds + 3 assists + 2 steals), Zaytcev (10 + 3 rebounds + 2 steals), Hummel (10 + 2 steals), Vyaltsev (6 + 5 assists + 4 rebounds), Boungou-Colo (6 + 3 rebounds), Ilnitskiy (5), Brown (4), Monya (2 + 3 rebounds), Sokolov (2), Pullen, Likhodey

Astana: Lowery (18 + 5 assists + 2 steals), Krubally (10 + 6 rebounds), Katsivelis (10 + 6 assists), Miller (9 + 5 rebounds + 4 assists), Kaselakis (7 + 3 rebounds), Ponomarev (5), Odom (4 + 8 rebounds), Degtyarev (3), Zhigulin, Murzagaliyev, Gavrilov.

POST-GAME

Ilias Papatheodorou, Astana head coach:

“First of all, congratulations to Khimki on this win; they deserved it. We tried to control the game in the first half and did it. We had a good choice in our offense; we were very close to Khimki. In the second half, I mean in the middle of the third quarter, we made three or four mistakes in a row. After that it was really difficult to follow the Khimki’s rhythm. We knew how difficult it would be to play vs. Khimki as this team had two losses in a row. We tried but it wasn’t enough for us to win this game. We have a difficult schedule but we have to continue”.

Dusko Ivanovic, BC Khimki head coach:

“When we started to use our brain and play smartly there were no problems. We began with very good energy but in the second quarter we didn’t play intelligently. When we started to play with our mind it was very good”.

Marko Todorovic, BC Khimki center:

“After two losses in a row we needed this game. We opened it playing well and with good energy. I think we improved a lot in defense and did it much better than in two last games. We are happy about it because we had to return to a winning streak, coming back to how we played last month. It was an important win for us. Tonight I played a lot of minutes because Dima [Sokolov] had three quick fouls. I had an opportunity. When missed we did box-outs and I had more space for play. It was a team work and not only because I grabbed rebounds. I think it’s good. It’s my record in the VTB League. Hopefully, I will have better games. In many moments I felt tired because I need a game rhythm. With a Christmas break I didn’t play for 20 or 25 days that was a long break for me. It’s my second game after a break. With the practices and games I think I will be back to my shape and get more minutes”.