UNICS beat CSKA in the Game of the Week on the road – 84:78 (22:15, 16:27, 18:16, 28:20).

Game progress
The guests gradually began to take the lead by the middle of the first quarter. The Kazan team 10:3 run helped to get a 7-point lead – 22:15. However, CSKA quickly managed to change the game. The hosts were able to cut the difference and Anton Astapkovich put the team ahead – 38:35. After winning the quarter by 11 points, Emil Rajkovic team took lead by the halftime – 42:38.

CSKA began to build up the lead in the second half. Another three-pointer by Melo Trimble gave the hosts a 9-point lead and Velimir Perasovic took a timeout. The situation for UNICS was complicated by Ismael Bako and Erick Green injuries. Despite that, the intrigue didn’t die: the Kazan team made a 9:2 run and trailed only by 2 points before the final quarter – 58:56.

Key moment
The end of the game had the Finals scenario. UNICS was better at the end the game. Nenad Dimitrijevic fantastic performance (11 points in a row) led to a double-digit lead – 79:69, with a 1.5 minute left.

But the hosts wasn’t about to give up. And-ones by Trimble and Jalen Reynolds offensive foul had UNICS fans worried, as the win was in danger. However, Livio Jean-Charles turnover forced CSKA to foul, and Dimitrijevic gave the hosts no chance to even force overtime. UNICS won the battle for first place, while CSKA got the 4th straight loss in the regular season.

X-factor
In the final quarter, UNICS defense let the League’s best offence to score only 11 points. That was enough to create a decisive advantage, which the Army team couldn’t recover from.

Fact
Nenad Dimitrijevic was unstoppable in the Game of the Week. The North Macedonian guard almost single-handedly scored in the last quarter with 21 of 28 team’s points. He got second-high scoring performance of the season behind Jeremiah Hill recent 22 points in a quarter.

Dimitrijevic 38 points became a career-high. Nenad made the second-high points total this season – Dimitrijevic shares it with Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson, who also scored 38 points. UNICS guard made 12 of 13 shots from the game and 10 of 11 free throws.

CSKA extends its losing streak to 4 games.

Olivier Hanlan made his debut for CSKA. The American guard scored 6 points in 18 minutes.

Leaders
CSKA: Melo Trimble (17), Livio Jean-Charles (16 + 5 rebounds), Amath M’Baye (11), Anton Astapkovic (10 + 6 rebounds), Semen Antonov (4 + 4 steals).
UNICS: Nenad Dimitrijevic (38 + 5 assists), Marcos Knight (12), Erick Green (11), Jalen Reynolds (8 + 10 rebounds), Louis Labeyrie (5 + 9 rebounds + 6 assists).

What’s next
CSKA (22-7): March 10 on the road versus Lokomotiv Kuban
UNICS (23-6): March 9 on the road against PARMA.