ASVEL uses balanced attak to down Turk Telekom

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne took control early en route to a convincing 84-63 win over visiting Turk Telekom Ankara on Tuesday night at Astroballe. The win improved ASVEL's record to 2-1 record in Group C, while Turk Telekom dropped to 0-3. The hosts had five scorers in double figures, with Mantas Kalnietis leading the way with 19 points and tying his career-high with 8 assists, and A.J. Slaughter added 16 points and 4-of-7 three-point shooting. Kenny Gabriel was Turk Telekom's top performer with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

ASVEL took control early behind point guard Kalnietis and big man Miro Bilan. A 7-0 run gave ASVEL 21-12 lead, and even though the visitors answered, Amine Noua hit his third triple from as many attempts to help the hosts lead 27-21 after 10 minutes. The margin grew to 35-24 with baskets from Charles Kahudi, Bilan and Kalnietis. T.J. Campbell had 12 points for Turk Telekom before the break, but Slaughter hit baskets, including a running triple, to help ASVEL take a 49-36 margin into halftime. Kahudi extended it to 54-36 early in the third. The scoring significantly slowed down and ASVEL kept its margin safe by allowing only 11 points in the third quarter. At the start of the fourth quarter, however, Can Akin hit a pair of threes, and Gabriel had back-to-back dunks to get the visitors within 65-57. Gabriel's triple made it 69-62 with a little over four minutes to go, but Noua and Kahudi scored from close range on the other end, restoring a double-digit lead before Slaughter's triple sealed the deal as ASVEL finished the game with a 15-1 run.

Key stat

ASVEL forced 16 turnovers in this game, but 12 of them in the first half. Turk Telekom made 9 of 14 two-point shots and 3 of 4 triples in the first half, however, ASVEL used turnovers to run in transition and held a 13-point lead at the break.

Movers and shakers

Apart from Kalnietis and Slaughterm Amine Noua collected 13 points and 8 rebounds, Charles Kahudi had 12 points plus 7 rebounds, and David Lighty added 11 in victory. T.J. Campbell was the visitors' top scorer, but had 12 of his 14 points in the first half. Sylven Landesberg scored 12, and Vladimir Stimac battled his way to 11 points in defeat.

Stellar stat

ASVEL had seven players each dish at least 2 assists, for a total of 23 for the night. That is the sixth most in 88 games that ASVEL has played in this competition.

Next game

In Round 4 next Tuesday, both teams will play on the road. ASVEL will visit the Serbian capital to play Partizan NIS Belgrade, while Turk Telekom will travel to play Dolomiti Energia Trento.