Krasnodar will host WINLINE Game of the Week between Lokomotiv Kuban and CSKA on Friday.
Place: Russia, Krasnodar, Basket Hall
Time: December 5, 2025, 20:00 (Moscow time)
Broadcasts: Match! Igra, VK Video, VTB League website
Progress
The Moscow team is about to finish a series of games against direct rivals. 2 games are already behind and ended mixed – 1-1. After losing to UNICS (75:76), the team pulled together and managed to beat Zenit (93:88). November ended with CSKA in the comfortable place at the top of the standings. Nikita Kurbanov saw the reason for the latest win in toughness and confidence. These qualities will be useful to the team against the third top team in a row.
Loko comes into this matchup with its longest winning streak (5). It began after the loss to CSKA in Moscow. This major loss will add to the Kuban team’s motivation.
The five-game winning streak was sure to please the team’s fans. The Krasnodar team defeated Zenit, the fast-paced BETCITY PARMA and MBA-MAI, and then confidently took care of Uralmash and Samara.
During the break
The national team’s games did not have too much of an impact. 4 Russian players took part in the national team’s training camp in Novogorsk. Ivan Samoylenko and Pavel Rybkov represented Lokomotiv Kuban. Ivan Zaytsev and Daniil Klyuchenkov arrived from CSKA.
Only Lokomotiv Kuban guard Kassius Robertson played in the Qualifiers. The Canadian guard managed to recover from injury and helped to defeat the Bahamas (94:88).
Strengthening
The teams were able to use the break to strengthen their squads. Natalia Furaeva said that in the summer, CSKA deliberately left a slot for international player in order to assess the most necessary direction for transfer work. The vacant spot was used to add Luka Mitrovic. The five-time Adriatic League champion with Crvena Zvezda joined the frontcourt of the reigning VTB League champions.
Loko was more active, with two forwards arriving in Krasnodar. The first was B.J. Johnson, already known to the team’s fans, who returned after rehabilitation from a shoulder injury.
The second addition was Mike Moore. The forward started the season with Karsiyaka and faced Krasnodar team in preseason game in summer, scoring 18 points. Perhaps this influenced his invitation to Russia. Moore describes himself as a versatile player with a good shot and defense in any position (height – 203 cm).
In the spotlight
Melo Trimble showed his stuff as a team leader in November and got the MVP of November, his first monthly award.
At Lokomotiv, young players came to the front in November, making the debut in the Team of the Week two times in a row. First, it was Vsevolod Ishchenko. Then Kirill Temirov. Ischenko also made it to third place in the Top 10 best young players. Ivan Samoilenko was 6th in the same ranking.
Numbers
CSKA leads the League in scoring, averaging 88.8 points.
Loko approaches the matchup as the leader in rebounds (38.3), primarily due to its work under the basket, and steals (9.2). This was not enough to allow fewer points than the Muscovites. Krasnodar managed to make it into the Top 3 (78 points allowed on average). CSKA is in second place in this ranking (75).
After a successful November, Melo Trimble secured his place in the Top 10 in scoring (16.4). This is enough to be the leader among both teams in the upcoming game.
Connections
In the summer, Antonius Cleveland left Lokomotiv Kuban for CSKA. The American forward said he was looking for advice on where to continue his career. In New York, former CSKA players Mike James and Darrun Hilliard spoke about Moscow. The veterans said that the guard “would not want to leave” the club. As part of the Moscow team, the former Loko player averages 10.3 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals.
