Kalev picked up its first win of 2019 in the Belarusian capital, 95-82, by racing to a 19-point lead at halftime.
The visitors sparkled on offense, dishing out 24 assists and shooting 43% from beyond the arc (10-23).
Kalev seized control late in the 1st quarter with an 18-2 run. Arnett Moultrie scored on consecutive possessions to erase an early 14-11 lead for Minsk and Janari Joesaar added a pair of 3-pointers as the visitors went up 29-16 in the span of four minutes.
Minsk never got closer than nine the rest of the game. Despite knocking down 11 3-pointers and getting 20+ point performances from guard tandem Brion Rush and Devon Saddler, the home team struggled with turnovers (19) and was outrebounded by 19 (44-25).
Kalev made a living on the offensive glass, pulling down 20 and outscored the Dragons by 21 on second-chance points.
Moultrie led the way for the Estonians, recording his second double-double of the season with 22 points and 12 rebounds on 10-17 shooting.
Trailing 55-36 at halftime, Tsmoki’s best chance to get back in the game came early in the 4th quarter. Down as much as 25 late in the 3rd, the Dragons went on a 22-7 run to cut the deficit to 10, 81-71. Devon Saddler was the key, scoring 11 points in less than three minutes, including three 3-pointers, to open the 4th.
After forcing a Kalev turnover on the next possession, the Dragons had a chance to pull within seven, but Rush missed from beyond the arc and the visitors responded with a 5-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Kalev improves to 6-7 with the win, squeezing out Nizhny Novgorod for the final playoff spot. Tsmoki drops to 2-10.
Tsmoki-Minsk – Kalev 82:95 (19-29, 17-26, 21-22, 25-18 )
Tsmok-Minsk: Saddler (20+5 rebounds +9 assists), Sitnik (3), Trastinetski (5), Meshcharakou (2), Liutych (12), Sarikopoulos (16+11 rebounds), Kudrautsau (3+5 assists), Rush(21), Paliashchuk(0).