Zenit made a comeback in the second half and beat CSKA for the first time this season— 90:86 (26:18, 13:24, 24:22, 27:22).
Game progress
CSKA was undefeated before the Game of the Week – a 24-game winning streak continued. But the reigning champion has 3 losses in 5 games and wins over Loko and MBA were made in tense endings.
But although CSKA could be considered a clear favorite, the first half for the Army team was not the easiest. CSKA shot a lot, but scored threes with a ppor percentage – only 2 made shots before the halftime. The first half had a low pace and not too scoring, the leader of the game had changed a lot.
Zenit had the lead for a long time : after another Trey Tompkins three-pointer in the second quarter, the St. Petersburg team had the max 9-point lead. But closer to the middle of the game, CSKA responded with a 8:0 run, equalised the score and then went ahead — 42:39.
The third quarter started with Casper Ware, Alexey Shved and Dejan Davidovac made threes, which made the hosts lead a double-digit – 56:45. However, Zenit did not give up: Royce Hamm and Adrien Moerman with Thomas Heurtel help responded to the Army team and by the beginning of the fourth quarter, the difference was 2 points — 64:63.
Key moment
The Army team started the fourth quarter as a leader, but gradually began to lose the lead. Zenit suddenly increased the pace and stunned the opponents with several fastbreaks. Sergey Karasev – Thomas Heurtel duo helped Xavier Pascual team to get ahead. Then 2 offensive rebounds and Royce Hamm and Caleb Homesley shots helped the guests to led by 8 points.
The last minute of the game consisted of nerves and tactical fouls. 24 seconds before the end, CSKA still had hope for at least overtime: first Ware made a three (87:84), and then Heurtel scored only one free-throw. 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 and fouled, he made both free-throws. Zenit interrupts CSKA super 24-game win streak.
Key factor
CSKA leads the United League in the three-point percentage – 41.4%. But today Zenit as the League’s best defensive team was able to make the Moscow team shooters life hard as possible. CSKA was able to made only 8 out of 32 (25%). Alexey Shved had not so bright game – although the MVP of January scored 15 points, he made only 2 out of 12 threes.
Fact
CSKA has not lost in the regular season for exactly 1 year: the Moscow team took the loss on February 7, 2022 against UNICS. A year without losses contained 33 wins in a row in the last and current regular season.
Leaders
CSKA: Nikola Milutinov (20 + 8 rebounds), Casper Ware (17 + 5 assists), Alexey Shved (15 + 5 rebounds + 5 assists), Dejan Davidovac (10)
Zenit: Trent Frazier (15), Thomas Heurtel (12 + 11 assists), Adrien Moerman (11 + 5 rebounds), Trey Tompkins (11 + 5 rebounds), Sergey Karasev (11), Royce Hamm (9 + 7 rebounds)
Next games
CSKA: road game versus Lokomotiv Kuban on February 10
Zenit: road game against Pari Nizhny Novgorod on February 13
