CSKA beat UNICS in Semifinals Game 4 on the road – 76:64 (16:17, 17:18, 24:13, 19:16).
Game progress
CSKA started the series with 3 wins. The Kazan team wasn’t going to give up and coped with the League’s best offense in the first half again. The Moscow team had 10 turnovers in first half, tonight CSKA had 13/ while UNICS had only 3. The Kazan team aggression and discipline were offset by poor shooting percentage. The hosts limited the Moscow team to 33 points, but only scored 35 by halftime.
As in the previous game, the third quarter was decisive. CSKA again managed to fix the turnovers problem and started to play its best. The Moscow team allowed the opponent to score 13 points, Anton Astapkovich long-range shooting and Livio Jean-Charles’ activity in the paint helped to make powerful run and push UNICS to a comfortable difference before the final quarter – 57:48.
Key moment
In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, CSKA increased its lead to 16 points, but UNICS revived the intrigue. The Kazan team was led by Marcos Knight, who scored 3 long-range shots. A 10-0 run allowed UNICS to cut the deficit to 4 points with 3 minutes left.
Jean-Charles got offensive foul, but Knight missed on the next possession. Melo Trimble and Jean-Charles’ shots gave the Moscow team the confidence back – an 8-0 run took the pressure off and guaranteed CSKA the win.
X-factor
The Kazan team made 31 long-range shot attempts, making only 6 (19.4%).
Facts
The Semifinals have never ended 4-0. CSKA and UNICS were the exception.
Andreas Pistiolis team will fight for the title with the winner of the second Semifinals between Zenit and Loko (2-2).
Leaders
UNICS: Marcos Knight (16 + 5 rebounds), Ismael Bako (13 + 9 rebounds).
CSKA: Anton Astapkovich (15 + 5 rebounds), Melo Trimble (12 + 7 assists), Tonye Jekiri (12 + 6 rebounds), Casper Ware (12 + 6 assists), Livio Jean-Charles (11).
What’s next
CSKA: Finals against winner of Zenit vs Lokomotiv Kuban series.
