CSKA beat Samara on the road – 92:82 (22:29, 18:18, 23:16, 29:19).
Game progress
Samara had better first half due to rebounds. Drazen Anzulovic team made 10 offensive rebounds, while CSKA got only 12 rebounds in total. That allowed Samara to make more shots from the game (36 versus 24). The hosts led by 11 points at the start of the second quarter, and by halftime had managed to maintain the lead – 47:40.
CSKA regained the lead at the start of the second half with a 12:2 run. First-class ball movement allowed the Moscow team to score easy points in the paint. Mikhail Kulagin took over the game for Samara: his 9 points in a row kept the guests close and Samara saved the intrigue before the fourth quarter – 63:63.
Key moment
The first 2 minutes of the fourth quarter were equal: the teams exchanged a few shots and Hayden Dalton three-pointer hepled Samara to take the lead – 72:71. After that, the Army team turned to the strategy that had worked throughout the game. CSKA finished 4 straight possessions with shots from the paint, then Anton Kardanakhishvili and Anton Astapkovic made three-pointers to provide an 8-point lead. CSKA took the win and secured the League Playoffs spot.
X-factor
CSKA consistently scored points in the paint, making 76% of two-point shots (22 of 29).
Fact
The Army team had 28 assists, which became third-high this season (32 is the season-high). Only Uralmash managed to get more assists – 30.
Leaders
Samara: Mikhail Kulagin (17), Rade Zagorac (13 + 5 rebounds), Hayden Dalton (10 + 6 rebounds).
CSKA: Melo Trimble (23 + 4 steals), Livio Jean-Charles (15), Amath M’Baye (15), Anton Astapkovic (11).
What’s next
Samara (10-10): January 10 at home versus Uralmash
CSKA (18-2): January 13 on the road against Lokomotiv Kuban.
