CSKA will host Zenit in the Game of the Week on Sunday.
Place: Russia, Moscow, Megasport
Time: February 2, 2025, 12:30 (Moscow time)
Broadcast: Match TV, TV Start, League website
Rivalry
In 2022, Zenit defeated CSKA (4-3) in the VTB League Finals, stopping the Moscow team one step away from winning the tenth consecutive title. Although the teams’ rivalry was principled even without this outstanding battle. In the next 2 seasons, CSKA got wins in the Playoffs, first leaving the St. Petersburg team in 3rd Place Series and then bypassing on their way to another League title last season.
The previous regular season series ended with 2:2. CSKA won the first 2 games, but lost both in March 2024.
The clash between the clubs in the Semifinals of the Playoffs 2024 ended 4-2. The games ended with an average difference of 15 points. Only in the last Game 6 had the fight to the last and the winner failed to get a double-digit final advantage.
The first game between the teams this season took place on October 13. The key to CSKA win in that game was a solid defensive performance in the end – 83:77. In the following game on December 7, Zenit took revenge – 82:78, breaking the Moscow team 11-game winning streak.
The rivalry history score in VTB League is 33-19, CSKA leads. Zenit has defeated.the Moscow team more often than any other team in the League.
Motivation
The battle for the lead in the regular season is at intense level. CSKA (24-4) and Zenit (23-5) are in the Top 3, with UNICS (24-5) in between. Lokomotiv Kuban (21-7) is not far behind.
If case of win, the St. Petersburg team will tie the lead with the rivals in the Top 3. The Moscow team will do everything to keep the one-game lead – there’s no better motivation for this week’s clash.
Anniversary
The Moscow team star guard Melo Trimble will turn 30 on the day of the game versus Zenit. He will definitely have a special attitude for the game.
Shved
The Game of the Week will be special for Alexey Shved, who made his debut for Zenit against MBA-MAI – one of the main events of the basketball winter! In nearly 20 minutes, the former CSKA player scored 9 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists with 3 of 4 three-point shots made.
Zenit General Manager Alexander Tserkovsky summarized the main result of the star guard first game in the VTB League season.
– We have to consider that Alexey has been out of game practice for over a month. But it’s obvious that in the game against MBA-MAI Shved confirmed the correctness of our choice. We expect him to improve significantly in the near future.
Preparation
Alexey Shved also noted that it will take time for him to get back to his usual shape.
– I feel great, I’m glad to be back. We won the first game, we’re getting ready for the next one… I’m still getting in shape. I haven`t played for a while, but I feel good already. So in the near future I will be in my shape.
The Game of the Week will tell us a lot about the current readiness of the League best scoring player.
Rebuild
Shved adaptation and conditioning is not the only issue that Xavier Pascual is concerned about. Omari Spellman departure and the loss of Xavier Moore are forcing the Spanish coach to rebuild his team. In the game against CSKA, Zenit may have another debut – American bigman Okaro White.
Zenit still have time before the Playoffs, but before the game with the Moscow team, such a change in the active phase looks like a factor that reduces the chances of the St. Petersburg team.
Facts
In the 2024, the teams played 10 games, the rivalry season score is 5-5.
In 2025, CSKA and Zenit will play for the first time, but how many more such games will we see?
Contest
CSKA guard Ivan Ukhov and Aleksa Avramovic will take part in the VTB United League All-Star Game OLIMPBET 3-point contest. The Russian is making 55.1% three-pointers (27/49), while the Serbian guard is scoring 36.3% (45/124).
Their competitors will be Evgenii Baburin, Samson Ruzhentsev and Garrett Nevels.
Duel
Aleksa Avramovic vs. Dwayne Bacon
Avramovic and Bacon did not show their best in their last 2 games. Probably they have been saving their energy to show the real performance at the most crucial moment – because that’s what makes true leaders stand out in many ways.
The two players who claim to be the League’s most star players will face off at Megasport.
Numbers
CSKA (90.9 points) and Zenit (88.5) are the two highest scoring teams of the season right now.
Alexey Shved is the 9th player in history to play in the VTB United League for both CSKA and Zenit.
CSKA and Zenit are the two best teams of the season in FG% (50.3 and 48.8) and 3-PT% (41.1 and 37.2).
Andreas Pistiolis (81.4%) and xavier Pascual (71.5%) are in the Top 3 in winning percentage among active coaches.
CSKA commits fouls less often than other teams – 18.6 fouls per game.
