CSKA will host UNICS in the Game of the Week.
Loaction: Russia, Moscow, Megasport (capacity 13344)
Time: March 2, 2023, 20:00
Broadcast: TV Start, Match TV, League website
Rivalry
CSKA and UNICS have faced each other many times in regular season games and in the playoffs. Despite the principled rivalry history, the Moscow team got more wins. In the VTB League, CSKA leads in wins with 24-7.
Although in the previous season CSKA could not beat UNICS. First, the Kazan team won at home in November 2021 – 69:64. And then, just before the All-Star Game in Moscow, one of the most exciting regular season games in the League history happened. UNICS and CSKA played for 50 minutes, and only in the last second of the 3rd overtime, the Kazan team guard OJ Mayo made the last shot:
This season
In the 2022/23 season, the teams also pleased us with exciting games. And if in the first game of the season in November, CSKA won quite confidently at home (92:79), then in Kazan the fans saw overtimes twice.
The game in November was dictated by the Moscow team: after the halftime, Milutinov and Ware made a 7-0 run in the third quarter. And after Astapkovich three-pointer, the difference became double-digit for the first time and Dallas Moore sthrengthened the team’s lead till the end.
A month later, UNICS hosted CSKA. Having taken the lead from the very start, was up for a long time. But even leading by 14, the Kazan team failed to beat the Army team for the first time this season. CSKA could have won in regular time, but Nikita Kurbanov made a shot after the shot clock violation.
In overtime, CSKA did not miss their time and extended the winning streak to 14 games.
The third UNICS and CSKA game was also in Kazan just before the All-Star break. The scenario was incredibly similar to December game: again Velimir Perasovic team confidently started, led by 17 and again the guests made a comeback and turned the game into overtime.
For that time, UNICS became stronger (112:104 OT): Dimitrijevic-Labeyrie duo scored 18 points in the OT, while the entire CSKA had 12.
In this game, UNICS set 2 records. Firstly, 112 points is the season high in points scored in 1 game. Secondly, until this February, CSKA had never let opponents score so much in the United League history.
What was next?
Only 2 weeks have passed since the previous rivals game. The main event was the All-Star Game, which was attended by players and coaches of both teams. Immediately 2 CSKA players won the contests: Samson Ruzhentsev became the Slam Dunk Contest winner, Dallas Moore took the Three-Point Contest.
UNICS has already returned from the All-Star break and lost to Zenit at home – 69:80. The last CSKA game took place on February 15 in Kazan.
Injuries
2 CSKA leaders were injured on February 15 in Kazan. Alexey Shved did not play in overtime due to a groin injury and Nikola Milutinov bruised his hand. Both players were forced to miss the All-Star Game 2023 in Moscow.
Nevertheless, Milutinov recovered quickly enough – the center played for the Serbian national team in the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers against Greece, scoring 24 points and 9 rebounds. But Alexey Shved’s participation in the game with UNICS is still questionable.
The Kazan team has everyone healthy in the roster.
Standings value
UNICS seriously complicated the situation with the loss to Zenit. Now, in order to win the regular season, the team need not only to beat CSKA with a minimum 8 points difference, but also to hope that the Army team will lose one more time. At the same time, the Kazan team can not lose in the remaining games of the second stage.
CSKA has a better situation. In case of a win over UNICS, the Moscow team will get as close as possible to end the regular season at the first place.
Numbers
Despite 2 losses in February, CSKA is still the best offensive team of the season – 97.6 points per game. At the same time, the Army team is far away from the closest competitor: UNICS has 87.3 points on average. It is not surprising that the Moscow team is also leading in made shots percentage (54.0%), while the Kazan team has 49.0%.
CSKA is also better than UNICS in assists (24.3 – 19.0), rebounds (38.5 – 35.6) and turnoverss (12.0 – 13.0). The Kazan team is better in steals – 8.4 against 6.9.
4 CSKA and UNICS players are among the Top 10 best scoring players of the season: Daryl Macon (17.8 points), Alexey Shved (17.0), Nikola Milutinov (15.9) and Jalen Reynolds (15.0).
Alexey Shved is second in assists (7,8), Nenad Dimitrijevic is fifth (5,7). Nikola Milutinov is the best rebounder of the season (8,9), Louis Labeyrie is the third (7,3).
Both teams have strong shooters. So, CSKA has 7 players (Davidovac, Ruzhentsev, Astapkovich, Komolov, Moore, Ukhov, Ware), who have 40% or higher. UNICS has Brown, Macon, Labeyrie.
