Preview: Griffin Kaspi at Rustavi, Georgian Super Liga

MCAE-HELENA, Ga. (Interstat) — The Rustavi basketball club will seek to halt a four-game losing skid when it hosts league newcomer Griffin Kaspi in a Georgian Super Liga matchup Wednesday at Azot Arena.

Rustavi (6-15) enters the contest after a narrow 89-86 home loss to Orbi on April 19. The team has struggled to close out games, with three of its last four defeats coming by four points or fewer.

A key player for Rustavi will be forward Elijah Buchanan. Over his last five games, Buchanan is averaging 8.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest. He posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds in a loss to Mega Tbilisi on April 5 and scored 14 points with 6 rebounds and 5 assists against Orbi.

Griffin Kaspi, in its inaugural Super Liga season, officially opens its 2026 campaign with this game. The team’s record stands at 0-0. Its most recent competitive action was a preseason exhibition loss to Orbi, 130-78, on April 27, 2025. In that contest, Davit Loria led Kaspi with 17 points, while Guga Patashuri added 16 points and 4 rebounds.

Rustavi’s recent results indicate a pattern of competitive play despite the losses. Prior to its current slide, the team secured a 69-67 road win over Kavkasia on March 28. Its season highlights include a 100-104 overtime loss at Orbi last December and a 75-69 victory at BC Delta Marneuli in March.

For Griffin Kaspi, the game marks a long-awaited return to official play and a chance to establish its identity in the top Georgian division. The team will look to its presumed core of Loria and Patashuri to generate offense against a Rustavi defense that has allowed an average of 82.2 points per game during its four-game losing streak.

The matchup tips off at 7 p.m. local time Wednesday at Azot Arena.