UNICS rely on defense vs Kalev to remain on VTB top / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Roman Kruchinin / Contributor - Getty Images Credit Roman Kruchinin / Contributor - Getty Images

UNICS Kazan (8-1) maintained their spot at the top of the VTB standings with a comfortable 71-54 (25-15, 17-11, 14-16, 15-12) victory over Kalev/Cramo (3-6).

3-pointers this season

36%8,9Points made:8,9Accuracy:35,7%Place in standings:7Record max:15Record min:5Most made 3FGs:Isaiah CanaanTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Mario Hezonja scored 15 points, Andrei Vorontsevich chipped in 11 and John Brown another 10 in the hosts' easy afternoon which did not include Isaiah Canaan and Lorenzo Brown.

Silas Melson and Devion Berry were the only ones in double-digits for Kalev.

Velimir Perasovic's men took the lead early in the game and never gave up on it until the end. The hosts, fresh off their EuroLeague triumph in Tel Aviv over Maccabi, dominated on both ends and established a double-digit margin halfway through the first quarter.

Things were simple from the on for UNICS, as almost all of their players contributed offensively while OJ Mayo relished the chance to get a little more playing time than usual.

The Estonian side relied on Silas Melson to score almost half of their points at half-time (12 out of 26), but shot very poorly (2/14 from deep) and made 8 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

After the break, consecutive three-pointers from Kristjan Kitsing cut down the deficit to ten (50-40), however, Andrei Vorontsevich quickly issued a response for the Russians with five points in less than a minute (61-42).

Kalev made their last attempt to claim something out of the contest by taking advantage of UNICS's self-complacency. Devion Berry made it a ten-point game again (61-51), but that was as close as the visitors could get.

Melson didn't score a single point in the second half and UNICS arrived at another domestic win.

UNICS Kazan: Mario Hezonja 15 (3/7 FG, 9/11 FT, 7 REB, 4 AST, 3 TO, 3 ST), Andrei Vorontsevich 11 (4/8 FG, 2 REB, 2 AST), John Brown 10 (5/10 FG, 2 REB), Marco Spissu 9 (6 REB, 5 AST).

Kalev/Cramo Tallinn: Silas Melson 12 (4/13 FG, 2/8 3PT SHOTS, 3 REB), Devion Berry 11 (4/10 FG), Jaquan Lewis 8 (3/9 FG, 5 AST, 3 TO, 3 ST).

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