CSKA defeated Zenit St. on the road, extending the hosts winning streak – 72-69 (20-14, 13-16, 16-22, 23-17).
Game progress
These two principled rivals played for the fourth time this season. Though CSKA had already guaranteed first place and Zenit would not catch up with the Army team under any circumstances, the game was still important draw the rivalry history score (CSKA leads 2-1).
The teams didn’t show the fans productive game in the first half.Thomas Heurtel and Alexey Shved absence was noticeable. CSKA trailed in the first quarter, despite Zenit 8-2 run at the start of the game. Ware helped the Army team take the lead and Artem Komolov helped CSKA get ahead 20-14. In the second quarter, the pace of the game dropped completely.
Zenit gradually began to catch up. A few plays by Trey Tompkins allowed the home team to take the lead – 33-30.
Key moment
Zenit began the second half with a 6-0 run, and from that point on the teams began an even more hard battle with constant lead changes. The third quarter was relatively productive, and by the final quarter CSKA was trailing. Casper Ware gave the Moscow team the lead again, and then DeVontae Cacok scored his points.
With 30 seconds to go, CSKA led 69-66 and hit two free-throws. Ware made only 1 free-throw and then Cacok committed an unsportsmanlike foul. Still, Zenit could not stabilise the situation. Trent Frazier also made only 1 free-throw and then lost the ball. Sergey Karasev shot in the last second was already a formality. CSKA won the season series 3-1, and the reigning champion is now definitely in third place in the regular season.
Key Factor
In this game, the home team clearly lacked the size to contend with CSKA powerful frontcourt. The Army team scored 15-of-30 from the paint, 6 of 9 was made by Nikola Milutinov.
Fact
It might be the last rivals game of the season. Now last year’s finalists can play only in the 2023 final series.
Leaders
Zenit: Trent Frazier (20 + 5 assists), Sergey Karasev (10), Dmitry Kulagin (10), Caleb Homesley (8 + 5 rebounds), Trey Tompkins (8 + 5 rebounds)
CSKA: Nikola Milutinov (19 + 13 rebounds), Casper Ware (17 + 6 assists), DeVontae Cacok (8 + 7 rebounds).
Next games
Zenit: road game versus MBA on March 22
CSKA: home game against Pari Nizhny Novgorod on March 22
