CSKA defeated Enisey at home in Game 1 – 104:66 (21:22, 27:13, 34:22, 22:9).
Game progress
Three three-pointers by Casper Ware laid the foundation for CSKA opening run—9-2. The guests took the initiative when both teams’ bench players entered the game. The first quarter ended with Dominic Artis making his free throws, after which Enisey took the lead for the first time in the game – 22-21.
The second quarter began with an 8-point run by the Moscow team. This time, CSKA didn’t let the lead slip away. At one point, the hosts snipers turned it on, allowing to build a solid lead. After Anton Astapkovich and Ware long-range shots, the score difference grew to 15 points—46:31.
The Moscow team had already built a 20-point lead at the start of the third quarter. CSKA didn’t stop there and remained effective throughout the entire game. As a result, the hosts became the first team in this year’s playoffs to score 100 points and secured a confident win.
X-Factor
Three-pointers were decisive. The Moscow team made exactly half of long-range shots—19 of 38. Those 19 made three-pointers tied the VTB League season-high.
Facts
CSKA remains undefeated at home this season—21 wins in 21 games.
With Andreas Pistolis as head coach, CSKA has never lost to Enisey—12 wins in 12 games.
The Moscow team set a new season-high 19 three-pointers. The Moscow team recorded 3 best performances of the season against Enisey (19, 18, and 18).
Egor Vanin set new career highs in points (18) and rebounds (10). This double-double was the first for Enisey center in the VTB League.
Leaders
CSKA: Melo Trimble (23 points + 6 rebounds), Casper Ware (21 points + 6 assists), Livio Jean-Charles (15 points + 8 rebounds), Anton Astapkovich (12)
Enisey: Egor Vanin (18 points, 10 rebounds), Dominic Artis (14), Danilo Tasic (13)
What’s next
April 29 in Moscow.
