After only scoring 41 points in their last Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, UNICS Kazan (3-0) were seeking redemption in the VTB United League.
In the end, they were successful, beating Enisey Krasnoyarsk (1-1) in overtime 83-80 (15-13, 13-21, 21-19, 20-16, 14-11).
The match was tied at 78 with 1:03 remaining, But Lorenzo Brown drained a clutch 3-pointer with 7 seconds to go to put his team up by three (81-78). Casper Ware and Hezonja exchanged made free throws, and UNICS won by three.
Mario Hezonja was spectacular, finishing with 28 points (8/11 2PT, 1/9 3PT, 9/10 FT), 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 5 turnovers, and 27 PIR over 42.9 minutes.
Lorenzo Brown added 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, and 26 PIR.
Despite jumping out in front 11-2 to start the game, UNICS lost their advantage at the beginning of the second period. Enisey controlled the game most of the time and went into the fourth quarter with a four-point lead (53-49).
Lorenzo Brown scored four straight points, Mario Hezonja added a jumper, and John Brown tied the game at 69 with less than 2 minutes to go. Hezonja had a chance to win it for his team, but his last-second 3-pointer was off the mark, and the game went into overtime.
UNICS played without Marco Spissu, O.J. Mayo, and Evgeny Valiev today.
UNICS: Mario Hezonja 28 (8 REB, 5 AST), Lorenzo Brown 21 (5 REB, 5 AST), John Brown 12 (9 REB), Dmitrii Uzinskii 12, Andrey Vorontsevich 5.
Enisey: Casper Ware 19, Darral Willis 19 (9 REB), Rion Brown 14, Sergey Balashov 8.
