CSKA beat Zenit in the Game of the Week on the road — 85:80 (22:15, 27:20, 17:21, 19:24).
The best scorers
Zenit: Thomas Heurtel (24 + 7 assists), Dmitriy Kulagin (24)
CSKA: Nikola Milutinov (22 + 10 rebounds), Dallas Moore (18), Casper Ware (16), Alexey Shved (10 + 9 assists), Anton Astapkovich (10)
Game progress
The game of last year’s finalists became the VTB League 7th round Game of the Week. CSKA was undefeated before the game. But the St. Petersburg team expected to improve the standings in the rivalry and extend the 3 games winning streak against CSKA.
The start of the game was controlled by the guests. While the Zenit tried to score, the Army team used their bigmen. Nikola Milutinov and Dejan Davidovac scored 11 points and helped CSKA to lead – 11:3. Xavier Pascual managed to shake up his team with substitutions. But Zenit potential comeback was chashed with Dallas Moore shots. Two three-pointers allowed CSKA to hold the lead at the end of the first quarter – 22:15.
The second quarter started with another CSKA run, Moore and Astapkovich made it happen. The St. Petersburg team tried to stabilize the situation with three-point shots. But such tactics had only a short-term effect. Nikola Milutinov (14 points and 5 rebounds) with Alexey Shved (5 assists) and Casper Ware support provided the dominance at the three-point line. With the trio efforts, CSKA had 14-point lead before the halftime – 49:35.
In the third quarter, Zenit managed to score more. The comeback was led by Thomas Heurtel and Dmitriy Kulagin, hey scored 17 points. But unfortunately for the hosts, such leaders’ actions did not bring significant results to the team. At the end of the quarter, Zenit was able to reduce the difference by only 4 points – 56:66.
The key moment
Kulagin and Heurtel tried to save the game in the fourth quarter. Their energy brought results at the end. The shocking segment performed by the French guard (8 points in a row) returned the intrigue. 50 seconds before the final, Zenit trailed by only 2 – 78:80.
But at this moment, CSKA used the experience. The Army team stalled the time as much as possible, Ware wentin the paint and tried to make a lay-up. He missed it, but Milutinov was able to score the second chance points – 82:78. But the St. Petersburg team bet on a quick possesion, but it did not work. Igor Volkhin missed the open three-pointer. Zenit started to make fouls, even despite Moore miss in one of two attempts, the Moscow team took the win.
Hero
Nikola Milutinov got a double-double (22 points + 10 rebounds) and became the best scoring and most effective (38) player in CSKA. He also got desecive 2 points in the end of the game, whichhelped the Army team to win the game.
Numbers
3 – CSKA ended a loosing streak against Zenit at the third game.
What’s next
Zenit: home game versus Pari Nizhny Novgorod on November 7
CSKA: road game against PARMA-PARI on November 5.
