CSKA beat UNICS in the opening game of the 2024/25 season – 71:55 (10:19, 11:9, 27:13, 23:14).
Game progress
The last time CSKA and UNICS played was just a week ago in the SuperCup final. The Moscow team came out on top then. Now UNICS had a desire to prove that work had been done. From the opening minutes, the guests discouraged CSKA with aggressive defense, allowing the Moscow team to score only 10 points in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the scoring dropped even further, although Tonye Jekiri and Aleksa Avramovic were able to briefly cut the difference to 3, but UNICS still led by halftime – 28:21.
However, the Moscow team picked up the pace at the start of the second half. the third quarter was Avramovic performance. The Serbian guard scored 10 points and game an assist to Livio Jean-Charles, which allowed CSKA to take the lead.
Key moment
The end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters determined the game result. The Kazan team got tired with limited rotation and missed 2 knockout runs (8:0 each). After Casper Ware made shot, CSKA lead became double-digits for the first time – 52:41. UNICS didn’t give up – 7 straight points from DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell gave the a chance at the end.
Still, UNICS newcomer didn’t show such efficiency in the final minutes of the game. The Moscow team took advantage of the guests mistakes and confidently got the win.
X-factor
1 of 25 three-pointers made – such a low percentage prevented the Kazan team from making a chase when CSKA took the lead.
UNICS players missed 23 long-range shots in a row, a United League record.
Fact
Today’s game was the 10th rivalry between CSKA and UNICS in the 2024. The Moscow team has increased the lead – 6-4.
With 776 assists in the VTB League, Dmitry Kulagin caught up with Milos Teodosic and became one of the top 3 assists in League history. Only Dmitrii Khvostov and Alexey Shved remain ahead.
Andreas Pistiolis wins his debut regular season game as CSKA head coach.
Leaders
CSKA: Amath M’Baye (15 + 7 rebounds), Aleksa Avramovic (14), Tonye Jekiri (12)
UNICS: Ismael Bako (12 + 10 rebounds), DeVaughn Akoon-Pursell (12), Sergey Toropov (3 + 10 rebounds).
What’s next
CSKA: September 25 at home against Uralmash
UNICS: September 26 at home versus Samara.
