In a regular season game Khimki to host UNICS.
Where:
Russia, Khimki, BCMO (capacity 4000 spectators)
When:
January 17, 2021, 15:00 (15:00 МSК)
Broadcast
Match! Strana, VTB United League web-site
Frame from the past
Season 2011/12: Khimki forward Sergey Monia tries to stop UNICS guard Henry Domercant
Face to face
Khimki and UNICS rivalry has been principle. The teams spent lots of memorable and meaningful games, the last was during 2019 play-offs. Moscow players losing 0-1 during the series took three consecutive victories and made finals. In the regular 2019/20 season Khimki were on top. The November fight was the second biggest differential in the confrontation history: Khimki won 109:83, +26. At Basket Hall Moscow team won 98:88.
The teams already met once this season. On November 22 UNICS outclassed Khimki in Kazan (83:76) breaking 5-game losing streak in the regular season series. That was a crucial win, the overall score in confrontation history is 15:10 in Khimki’s favor.
Last week
Khimki had a double week in Euroleague: on Tuesday at home the lost to Barcelona (75:87) and on Thursday took a defeat from Anadolu Efes (60:99). Euroleague losing streak for Khimki is now 12 games.
UNICS started in EuroCup top-16 on Wednesday with away victory over Andorra – 73:66.
Resignation
After -39 in Istambul Khimki dismissed Rimas Kurtinaitis. Acting coach now is Andrei Maltcev who came to the organization this season and worked as an assisting coach.
Intrigue
After a losing streak Khimki almost los’t chances to get into Euroleague play-offs but in VTB League the team still can recover. However, the situation is tough: two consecutive victories evened the record (5-5) but Khimki are only 7th in standings, in the play-off zone. UNICS are in a better position. 3-game winning streak and rivals’ mistakes let Kazan (8-4) to get to the third place. Considering EuroCup win the White-Greens are having a silver lining: The last time the team lost was on December 26,
The Yellow-Blues after an important success in Krasnodar will try to beat another big five team, which is important not only for standings but for emotions after a devastating loss in Turkey and head coach dismissal. Kazan are on their way and try to settle in the top-3.
Speech
Khimki forward Sergey Karasev: “We have lots of defeats and that is not what we were depending on in the beginning. But we can’t give up. It is clear that in Euroleague we lost almost all the chances to get into the playoffs but we will fight anyway. In the VTB League we have the chances, we should win our games and play through the pain.”
Homecourt advantage
Khimki aren’t stable at home (3-2) but the last time UNICS won in BCMO was long ago on March 26 2018 (83:80). The last Khimki’s win over Kazan was on February 2, 2020 (98:88). In latest 10 games 7 were taken by Khimki.
Losses
Khimki had a double Euroleague week without Stefan Jovic and Janis Timma, and also without Jonas Jerebko and Greg Monroe.
Stats
Although the results are not impressive Khimki lead in the league in assists per game (21,7). UNICS have 14,7 and ranked 13th in this indicator. Khimki also lead in 2-point percentage – 57,4%, UNICS are 7th with 53,1%. Kazan are 2nd in steals (7,7), Khimki are 6th (6,7).
Familiar faces
In Khimki there are two rookies that were playing for UNICS before. Evgeny Voronov were an UNICS player in 2016/17. Errick McCollum was a Kazan player since 2018 till 2020 and was UNICS’ leader. In both seasons he was the top scorer on the team – 14,1 and 19,9 points.
Duel
Devin Booker against Jordan Morgan.
The guards are responsible for the game result in many ways, Alexey Shved against Jamar Smith and Isaiah Canaan. But the key point is matchup under the basket, considering leaders’ losses Booker’s role has grown, this week he played his biggest minutes. Together with Jordan Mickey they are the only Khimki’s bigs. Morgan will face Booker, he is like an opposite of athletic and bright Booker in terms of game style. Jordan isn’t a highlight player but he is stable and work hard. However, this duel is expected to be interesting.
