On Monday, Zenit will host CSKA in the Game of the Week.
Time: 20:00 (Moscow time)
Location: Russia, Saint Petersburg, Sibur Arena
Broadcast: TV Start, Match TV, League website
Rivalry
Zenit vs CSKA! The rivalry between the two famous brands reached a new level in the previous season: the teams had an incredible final series, and the winner was determined only in the 7th game. Zenit won the League title for the first time in history and CSKA lost in the playoff series for the first time in history.
In total, the teams have played 35 games since 2014, in 22 the Army team took the win.
It is worth highlighting the SuperCup 2022 final: then CSKA had the lead for a long time, but allowed Zenit to return to the game. The St. Petersburg team took a timeout trailing by 2. After this, Thomas Wimbush scored a three-pointer over Livio Jean-Charles and only 2 seconds left. However, the Moscow team could not even make a shot and made a turnover.
This season
The teams played twice in the 2022/23 season – and both times the Army took the win. Moreover, these games had various scenarios.
On November 1 in Sibur Arena, CSKA took the lead from the first minutes and by the halftime led by 14. Zenit spent the entire second half on a comeback, which was almost a success: 50 seconds before the end, the reigning champion trailed by 2 – 78:80!
At that moment, the MVP of October Nikola Milutinov scored a second-chance points. In response, Igor Volkhin did not score a three-pointer and the game result was decided.
The second game of the teams ended the regular season first stage. This time Zenit returned to Megasport for the first time after the 2022 Finals, did not allow the opponent to immediately take the lead – 43:43 after the first half.
And in the third quarter, Casper Ware put on his own show. The Army team guard made 4 consecutive three-pointers, actually single-handedly getting CSKA a double-digit lead. As a result, Ware scored 20 points in the quarter and became a key factor. Zenit also lost confidence and lost by 20 – 80:100.
The third game happened 2 weeks before the All-Star Game – differed from the previous in the scenario and the result. Zenit coped with CSKA pressure only trailed by 3 point at the halftime – 39:42. In the third quarter, the Army team again tried to decide the game result in advance, but the St. Petersburg team madea n 11-point comeback, and in the fourth quarter the team led by 8.
The last minute of the game turned into a mentality duel and tactical fouls. 24 seconds before the end, CSKA still had hope for at least overtime trailing by 6: first Ware made a three-pointer (87:84), and then Heurtel scored 2 free-throws. In response, Ware reduced the difference to 2 points — 88:86. But in the next possession, the Moscow team failed to steal the ball from Trent Frazier, who made 2 free-throws.
As a result, Zenit ended CSKA super winning streak of 24 games – the Army team took their first lose in the 2022/23 season.
What was next?
Both teams have lost once since the previous game: Zenit lost to Pari Nizhny Novgorod on the road, CSKA to UNICS in Kazan in overtime.
For the Army team this lose was painful, but not critical – after all, the team still had the first place. But Alexey Shved and Nikola Milutinov were injured, and if the Serbian center has already returned, then the Russian guard has not played for a month.
For Zenit, the lose in Nizhny Novgorod played the role of a motivation – after that, the reigning champion had a 3-game winning streak: over Pari NN, UNICS and Loko.
The first place in the regular season
3 weeks before the end of the regular season, CSKA has already secured the first place in the standings. Moreover, it happened not after the win in a certain game, but after UNICS lost to Pari Nizhny Novgorod.
CSKA wins the regular season for the second consecutive season. The Moscow team will have home-court advantage in each of the playoff rounds in which it will participate.
UNICS pursuit
Zenit has a good chance to overtake the Kazan team and finish the regular season at the second place. But for this, the St. Petersburg team can no longer make mistakes – any lose (or any UNICS win) will leave the team on the third place before the playoffs.
The best offense versus the best defense
The Moscow team demonstrate one of the League best offense. On average, CSKA scores 97.2 points and shows the highest shooting percentage (54.0%), three-pointers (41.0%), two-pointers (63.1%) and free throws (79.9%).
But Zenit is the best defensive team. On average, the reigning champion let opponents score 72.5 points per game.
Interestingly, before the game on February 6, CSKA still had the best offense (97.8 points), and Zenit had the best defense (71.9 points).
Injuries
If Nikola Milutinov has already returned, then Alexey Shved has not yet recovered after an injury in Kazan a month ago. Also, forward Semen Antonov is out due to injury.
Zenit main loss is Thomas Heurtel – the guard has not played due to injury since mid-February. In addition, another French player Adrien Moerman was out for a similar reason. Denis Zakharov continues to recover from injury.
