Two regular-season games will take place on Tuesday.
Dynamo (Vladivostok) vs. Avtodor (Saratov)
Time: 7:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. Moscow Time)
Venue: Fetisov Arena, Vladivostok, Russia
Broadcast: Kinopoisk
Dynamo: After two losses to Ural-based teams, Dynamo returns to Vladivostok to face Avtodor. The teams met in the final of the Rodionov preseason tournament, where Sergei Kozin’s squad prevailed in a tense game (94–88). The Primorye team is strong on offense but struggles with free throws, converting only 62.5% of their attempts (the worst mark in the league), which could be a key factor in the battle for victory.
Avtodor: The Saratov team suffered a loss against CSKA. Another disappointing outcome of the game was Wendell Green’s injury. The American will be sidelined for about two weeks, which is a major blow to Avtodor’s already thin rotation. Team captain Alexander Evseev, who is still recovering from an injury, and Alexander Shenderov, who is missing the road trip due to illness, will not play in the upcoming game. Roster issues are forcing the coaching staff to rely on young players, who will have to shoulder additional responsibility.
Avtodor Head Coach Rostislav Vergun: “Dynamo looks very motivated and aggressive at the start of the season. With every game, you can see more teamwork and the coach’s vision coming through. The trip to Vladivostok will be a real test for everyone in every respect.
We must stay true to our core, regardless of any difficulties with the roster. I believe that we have players on our roster who are capable of making a significant contribution from game to game, and such challenging situations should bring us closer together and make us stronger as a team.”
CSKA (Moscow) vs. BETCITY PARMA (Perm Krai)
Time: 7:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Moscow Time)
Venue: Russia, Moscow, “Basket Hall Moscow”
Broadcast: Kinopoisk
CSKA: The matchup against PARMA is a crucial one for the Army Men. It was the Perm team that handed them a heavy defeat earlier this month in the WINLINE Basket Cup (86–62). Since then, the Muscovites have picked up steam and remain undefeated. To get revenge and extend their winning streak, the hosts need to control the pace of the game and prevent their opponents from gaining momentum. CSKA has lost to the visitors from Perm on their home court only once—in September 2020, with a score of 95–97.
BETCITY PARMA: Evgeny Pashutin’s team has yet to find consistency this season. After defeating Dynamo and scoring over 100 points, the Perm team then lost to Igokea in the WINLINE Basket Cup, allowing their opponent to score 100 points. PARMA turns the ball over more than any other team in the league (17.4 per game on average), which is particularly dangerous against CSKA, the league leader in steals (11.7). However, if the visitors’ key players find their rhythm, a second consecutive victory over the defending champions is entirely possible.
CSKA Head Coach Andreas Pistiolis: “We know what our opponent is capable of—he’s shown it in previous matches against us and other teams. We’re in for a tough, physical game. We need to show that we’ve learned our lesson and are playing better than we did in our last matchup.”
BETCITY PARMA Head Coach Evgeny Pashutin: “We have an away game coming up against the current league leader. CSKA has a roster full of quality players at every position, and Amath M’Baye joined them in October. We’ve already faced CSKA this season in the Cup in Perm. We need to try to play with energy and aggression on both ends of the court, act boldly at every moment, and stay focused.”
