CSKA defeated UNICS in the Game of the Week in Kazan – 80:73 (20:17, 24:19, 16:21, 20:16).
Game progress
Aleksa Avramovic had to leave the court early after collision with Mikhail Belenitskii. Opponents struggled in offense at the start and only got going by the end of the first quarter. CSKA had better field-goal shooting and took a 3-point lead. The second quarter started with the hosts several mistakes, which allowed the Moscow team to increase the lead.
Things heated up when the difference became double-digit. Marcos Knight pushed Anton Astapkovich away after confrontation and received a technical. Following him, the Kazan team head coach Velimir Perasovic couldn’t control his emotions. Avramovic returned and was hit in the face by Belenitskii. The game equalised, but free throws advantage (10-2) helped the Moscow team to get lead at the end of the first half – 44:36.
The second half was marked by three-pointers by both teams. The Moscow team had 3-point lead just before last quarter.
Key moment
The guests started the game more focused and organized an 8:0 run. Once again, the hosts had to catch-up. UNICS got really close, but couldn’t really change the difference in the end. Aleksa Avramovic steal and 2 points in the final seconds of the game sealed the game – 80:73.
CSKA won its 7th consecutive game and extends the longest winning streak in the League.
X-factor
UNICS twice missed 8:0 runs at the start of the 2nd and 4th 10 quarter, which had a big impact on the game.
CSKA had better three-point shooting, better percentage (39.3 vs 27.3) and more made shots (11 vs 9).
Facts
CSKA got 4th consecutive head-to-head win in Kazan. The VTB League rivlary history is 32-12, CSKA leads.
Tony Taylor scored the 1,000th in the VTB League.
Jalen Reynolds made the 100th three-pointer in the VTB League.
Leaders
UNICS: Jalen Reynolds (18 + 7 rebounds), Marcos Knight (14 + 9 rebounds + 5 assists), DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell (11 + 5 rebounds), Tony Taylor (11), Dmitry Kulagin (10).
CSKA: Melo Trimble (20 + 7 rebounds), Casper Ware (19), Aleksa Avramovic (10 + 4 steals).
What’s next
UNICS: November 14 on the road versus Samara
CSKA: November 13 on the road against Uralmash.
