CSKA defeated Lokomotiv Kuban in the Game 3 on the road – 79:73 (20-16, 17-23, 18-18, 24-16).
Game progress
The loss in the previous game forced CSKA coaching staff to look for new ways to play against the Krasnodar team. The Moscow team forced the opponent to shoot more threes. That approach proved to be very effective. In the first quarter, Loko scored only 4 points from the paint, while their three-point percentage was also low (28.6%). The Army team used bigmen quite successfully and won the opening quarter – 20:16.
But in the second quarter, the hosts found a way to break the opponent’s defense. The Krasnodar team players added pace, switching quickly from defense to offense. That worked wery well and Lokomotiv took the lead before the halftime – 39:37.
After equal third quarter, the final quarter finally got some intrigue. First, the Army team took a 9-point lead with DeVontae Cacok and Casper Ware actions – 68:59. Then the hosts cut the difference to a minimum – 69:70.
Key moment
This time, however, the Moscow team took the control of the game. CSKA leaders led in the final minutes. Shved and Ware shots helped the guests to get a 7-point lead – 77:70. Barford 3-pointer with 12 seconds left brought some hope of intrigue. But Ware free-throws sealed the game.
Key factor
DeVontae Cacok took the leading role after Nikola Milutinov injury. In both Krasnodar games, the American bigman made double-double. In that game, the forward made 8 of 9 shots from the game, scored 16 points and took10 rebounds.
Fact
For the first time in this Playoffs Series, CSKA and Loko failed to score even 80 points. The defensive game helped the Army team. The guests were able to tie the Series.
Leaders
Lokomotiv Kuban: Jaylen Barford (19), DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell (13), Chris Horton (12 + 5 rebounds).
CSKA: Casper Ware (20), Alexey Shved (18 + 5 rebounds + 8 assists), DeVontae Cacok (16 + 10 rebounds), Anton Astapkovich (10).
Next game: April 25 in Moscow
