CSKA defeated Avtodor in the Game 2 – 111:85 (34:21, 31:18, 24:20, 22:26).
Game progress
CSKA won the Game 1 with a huge difference – 103:68. The Saratov team leader Malik Newman promised that Avtodor would be better prepared for the Game 2 in Moscow.
But the start of Sunday’s game showed that CSKA players aren’t relaxed after their big win. Less than 2 minutes after the start, the Army team had an 8-0 run, and by the middle of the first quarter the hosts scored 25 points and led by 18.
Timeout by Branislav Vicentic helped to improve the situation and Avtodor cut the lead to 13 points by the end of the first quarter. CSKA had an unstoppable offense: by the halftime, the Moscow team had scored 65 points, setting a season high for points scored in the first half.
Key moment
By the beginning of the third quarter the difference was already 26 points, and at the end of the third quarter, the Army team led by 30. At this point, the game result was known. Avtodor improved scoring and won the fourth quarter (26-22), but they couldn’t pull their opponent back into a tight finish.
CSKA won the Game 2 at home and got as close as possible to the Semifinals
Key Factor
CSKA shooting percentage: 60.3 % from the game and 55.2 % from deep.
Fact
Emil Rajkovic team lacked just 1 shot from the game to renew UNICS’ season high of 112 points.
Leaders
CSKA: Casper Ware (17 + 10 assists), Samson Ruzhentsev (16), Devonte Cacock (14), Dallas Moore (13), Nikola Milutinov (12 + 5 rebounds), Anton Astapkovic (12)
Avtodor: Brandon Garrett (17 + 8 rebounds), Malik Newman (16 + 8 assists), Sean Armand (12 + 7 assists), Danilo Nikolic (11), Vitalius Pranauskis (10).
Next game: April 5 in Saratov
