CSKA beat Nizhny Novgorod on the road – 93:84 (29:21, 24:29, 25:15, 15:19)
Top scorers
Nizhny Novgorod: Ivan Strebkov (20+5 rebounds+6 assists), Pavel Antipov (15), Terell Parks (14+11 rebounds), Brandon Brown (11+5 assists)
CSKA: Johannes Voigtmann (15+9 rebounds), Nikita Kurbanov (15), Mike James (13+9 assists), Kyle Hines (12+8 rebounds), Daniel Hackett (12), Ivan Ukhov (10)
Story
First quarter for Nizhny was like the continuation of the game against PARMA – the hosts couldn’t arrange defense and allowed 29 points. In the middle of the second quarter the differential began to be critical – Mikhail Kulagin and Daniel Hackett’s efforts led to double-digit CSKA lead (40:29 after a three-point bomb by Kulagin).
👀 Майк Джеймс не глядя отдает на Косту Куфоса – и тот колотит сверху в Нижнем Новгороде!
👀 @kostakoufos SLAMS after the @TheNatural_05's no-look pass! pic.twitter.com/8V3E24Ykwp
— VTB United League (@VTBUL) January 26, 2020
However, Nizhny didn’t want to give up. Ivan Strebkov and Pavel Antipov brought the intrigue back in the game by long-range shots, and then continued to push CSKA’s defense. Another three by Antipov let Zoran Lukic’s team tie the game a few moments before the big break – 46:46!
Key moment
In the second half the Red-blues established their D, and their lead turned double figures again. Ivan Ukhov was on fire during that episode – 9 points in the third quarter. Nevertheless, Nizhny made its last attempt to get back into the game. Ivan Strebkov started hosts’ powerful run – 11:2 and only -4 (Strebkov himself scored 7 points then). But Novgorod’s offensive run was stopped by a Hackett’s timely three, and Johannes Voigtmann and Nikita Kurbanov took a double-digit lead back. Nizhny had no time for another run.
Hero
Johannes Voigtmann. Dimitrios Itoudis adjustment of pushing hosts’ defense with terrific frontcourt Voigtmann-Hines-Kurbanov worked perfectly, the German added 6 offensive rebounds to 15 points (overall he has 9 boards).
Stat
18:7 – CSKA’s advantage of points off turnovers was killing for Nizhny Novgorod.
Comments
Nizhny Novgorod head coach Zoran Lukic:
– I hope today’s game was fun to watch for fans. But the final score wasn’t probably satisfying. We tried to show our basketball, and in the second quarter even managed to take the lead. Unfortunately, when you play against such team as CSKA, poor decisions don’t let you take the control over the game. Details – missed open shots, wrong pass, bad communication, forgotten sniper in the corner lead to defeat.
CSKA head coach Dimitrios Itoudis:
– Congratulations to my team on victory. We came to Nizhny Novgorod with cut roster, because some players caught a virus, others continue to recover after injuries. However, those who were on the court tonight showed nice basketball. We were controlling the game from the beginning to the end. In the second quarter we slowed down a bit when Nizhny made a run. But during half-time break we discussed it in the locker room, corrected all we had to correct and in the second half showed good defense. Moreover, we had players who took lead on this game, for example Ivan Ukhov. It’s really important that despite all the difficulties we won.
Next
Nizhny Novgorod: February 1 vs Zielona Gora
CSKA: February 10 vs Astana
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