On Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday 6 regular season games take place.
March 13, Saturday
Lokomotiv-Kuban (Russia) vs Avtodor (Russia)
Time: 15:00 (15:00 МSК)
Venue: Russia, Krasnodar, Basket Hall
Broadcast: Match! Igra, TV Start
Odds by Fonbet: Lokomotiv-Kuban — 1,23, Avtodor — 4,15
Lokomotiv-Kuban: On Wednesday Krasnodar pleased the fans with important victory. Beating Trento in EuroCup with needed differential of 14 points Loko gained the advantage over the Italians and made it to the tournament quarterfinal. There they’ll face their United League rivals, UNICS. Mindaugas Kuzminskas was on fire, he set his career-highs in points and rebounds in EuroCup (26+9 rebounds) and was named weekly MVP in the tournament. Another hero was veteran Mantas Kalnietis who collected impressive double-double (21+10 assists).
Avtodor: This season Saratov met Loko, and this game was successful for them, Avtodor took overtime victory in a tight one. It’s interesting that the hero of the game was Drew Gordon, who scored 27 + 15 boards. Now Gordon has to face their ex-teammates as Loko’s starting center: he became February MVP in his new team already. Meanwhile, Avtodor can’t find the momentum: in last 3 games they won only once, they beat League’s worst team Tsmoki-Minsk. Next week PARMA that is 9th play twice, thus in case of defeat from Loko Saratov may fall of Top-8.
Kalev (Estonia) vs UNICS (Russia)
Time: 17:00 (18:00 МSК)
Venue: Estonia, Tallinn, Kalevi Spordihall
Broadcast: TV Start
Odds by Fonbet: Kalev — 4,85, UNICS — 1,18
Kalev: As the end of the regular season gets closer some lower ranked teams paced up. First of all, it is Enisey and Kalev. Tallinn have already beaten CSKA, and in the beginning of March also beat other Top-8 representatives, Avtodor and straight standing rivals Astana. Chavaughn Lewis became the hero of these games – 26 and 21 points. Thus, Kalev save theoretical cnahces to make it to the play-offs, being below the 8th spot only by 3 wins. To make final push Kalev powered up with American guard Marques Townes from Mursia.
UNICS: EuroCup defeats from Gran Canaria was the first in 2021 for UNICS and finished their incredible streak, counting the United League the streak was 14 games. Actually, the defeat from Spaniards wasn’t crucial: Kazan have already won first place in their group ahead of schedule and made it to the quarterfinal where they face Lokomotiv-Kuban. In December game against Kalev Dimitrios Priftis outclassed the Estonians showing signature defense, Kalev only managed to score 66 points.
March 14, Sunday
Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) vs Tsmoki-Minsk (Belarus)
Time: 14:00 (14:00 МSК)
Venue: Russia, Nizhny Novgorod, CEC Nagorny
Broadcast: Match! Igra
Odds by Fonbet: Nizhny Novgorod — 1,04, Tsmoki-Minsk — 11,00
Nizhny Novgorod: Last tour for Nizhny was bright: on Zoran Lukic’s team Russian National team captain Andrei Vorontsevich debuted. Although he didn’t become the best player of the game his confident game helped Volga take crucial victory over Astana, coming back from 22-point gap. Nizhny also debuted successfully in Champions League Top-16 beating Strasbourg via impressive performance by Kasey Shepherd, who scored 26 points.
Tsmoki-Minsk: The Belorussians settled on the last place saving only theoretical chances for play-offs. January victory was only an exception, after it the Dragons lost 6 consecutive games. It’s interesting that this win was got against Nizhny. At that moment Zoran Lukic’s team were in League’s Top-3 but Tsmoki managed to overcome 14-point differential and stood in the ending. Since then Tsmoki’s offense has been struggling, they haven’t scored more than 77 points, they are the most less-scoring team in the League (72,4 points per game).
March 15, Monday
CSKA (Russia) vs Khimki (Russia)
Time: 19:30 (19:30 МSК)
Venue: Russia, Moscow, USH CSKA
Broadcast: Match TV
Odds by Fonbet: CSKA — 1,14, Khimki — 5,75
CSKA: A year ago this game would have been considered the main match of the regular season. However, CSKA are only 3rd suffering 5 losses, more than in previous season. Khimki are struggling to settle in the play-off zone. Nevertheless, one of the main Russian basketball derbies won’t disappoint the fans. Both teams are unstable, thus it is fair to say that the result is unpredictable. CSKA are front-runners considering they’re playing at home. However, in the Euroleague CSKA took 4th consecutive home defeats. The latest was the game against Milan, where one of the greatest CSKA’s players Kyle Hines acted against them. The Red-Blues lost despite incredible performance by Tornike Shengelia (20 points, 10 rebounds and 4 steals).
Khimki: Moscow team look completely unpredictable. Just after home loss against Zielona Gora Khimki defeated season’s leader Zenit. Moreover, they played without Alexey Shved. Khimki’s star didn’t participate in the game against Crvena Zvezda in Euroleague just like other key players (Booker, Timma, Jovic). Like CSKA, Khimki lost their Euroleague game this week although they found a leader on their roster. It was Errick McCollum, who scored 29 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. By the way, McCollum was the hero against Zenit as well. If Khimki’s guard save this approach by the Leningradka Derby it would be a tough one for CSKA even considering opponents’ roster problems.
Zenit (Russia) vs PARMA (Russia)
Time: 20:00 (20:00 МSК)
Venue: Russia, Saint-Petersburg, SC Yubileinyu
Broadcast: Match! Strana
Odds by Fonbet: Zenit — 1,27, PARMA — 3,75
Zenit: The defeat from Khimki who played with cut roster was a surprise. It complicated Zenit’s standings situation a little bit. UNICS that haven’t lost in 2021 yet have one win less than Zenit. However, the schedule is friendly to Petersburg. They have to play 6 games more this season, and only in one of them Zenit will meet Top-5 team (home game against CSKA on April 5). Aenit haven’t played against PARMA this season yet, this will be the first meet of the season, the second will be in second last season round.
PARMA: Perm beat Zenit only once in 8-game history. But now it’s the best time for improving the situation as PARMA’s hardest part of the season begins. Ural still have an opportunity to take play-off spot. PARMA now have 7 wins compared to Avtodor’s 8, but two games less. Yes, Ural will have 4 away games in a row (one lost to Zielona Gora) but it isn’t the key factor: on the road Kazys Maksvytis’ team play better (5 from 7 wins). Also, 3 days before the game Zenit will play against Panathinaikos in Greece, it won’t be a piece of cake.
March 16, Tuesday
Zielona Gora (Poland) vs Kalev (Estonia)
Time: 18:00 (20:00 МSК)
Venue: Poland, Zielona Gora, CRS Hala Zielona Góra
Broadcast: League’s web-site
Zielona Gora: Zan Tabak’s team continue to surprise. After the loss against Nizhny Novgorod in February the Poles won 3 next games in a row. In latest over Enisey the Poles set season-high in scoring – 117 points. Zan Tabak managed to build one of the strongest League’s offense: in average scoring ZIelona Gora are third (88,3) outpacing season leaders Zenit and UNICS. However, in the first game against Kalev the defense saved Zielona Gora, by the fourth quarter Kalev led but then the Poles won the quarter 20:7 and made it to the victory.
Kalev: Although confrontation history score is even (2-2), Kalev are underdogs in this one. 3 days before the game Tallinn play against UNICS, and Kazan team is famous for making the opponents fatigued. Unlike Zielona Gora Kalev’s offense is questionable: after brilliant 107 points against CSKA Roberts Stelmahers’ squad in 4 games scored over 80 only once. Actually, this game the victory over Avtodor in last round.
