Krasnodar will host WINLINE Game of the Week between Lokomotiv Kuban and UNICS on Sunday.
Place: Russia, Krasnodar, Basket Hall
Time: February 8, 2026, 14:00 (Moscow time)
Broadcasts: Start Triumph, League website
Rivalry
Lokomotiv Kuban and UNICS have played many significant games and series throughout history. Last season, the teams fought for third place. The bronze went to Kazan team, who defeated the rival in 4 games (3-1). The regular season ended with the opposite result – Krasnodar team won the season series 3-1.
The teams set a VTB League record by playing in the Playoffs for the 9th time.
In the 2025/26 season, the top clubs have played twice so far: on October 19, UNICS won at home 74-63, and on January 4, the Kazan team celebrated win at Krasnodar’s Basket Hall (81-77).
The rivalry history score is 36-30, UNICS leads.
Power balance
Two days after the January loss to UNICS, Lokomotiv Kuban officially announced petting ways with head coach Anton Yudin. He was soon replaced by Tomislav Tomovic. A month is hardly enough time for the team to establish its identity and reach its full potential, but a new clash with one of the two best teams in the regular season will help to assess the changes that have happened. After parting ways with Yudin, Loko played 8 games with a 6-2 record and is now at third place in the standings (18-9). Zenit (17-9) and BETCITY PARMA (15-10) are also contenders for a spot in the top three.
The Kazan team is performing much more consistently. UNICS lost a 17-point lead and lost the main game of the winter against CSKA, but on Wednesday made a big comeback (from 16-point deficit) on the road against Uralmash. The Kazan team will continue its fight for first place in the standings in Krasnodar.
Return
Loko returns to Krasnodar after a 3-game road trip. The team played its last game at Basket Hall on January 25, and then played 3 road games in just one week (2-1). The energy-sapping tour affected the team’s condition, as Tomislav Tomovic said after the game in Nizhny Novgorod.
Reynolds climbs in top scorers list
Jalen Reynolds scored 24 points against Uralmash and brought his career total in the League to 2,914, climbing to 5th place in League history. The center surpassed 2 competitors in one evening: Dmitry Kulagin (2,893) and Vitaly Fridzon (2,896).
Zenit forward Sergey Karasev is at 4th place with 2,938 points.
Family ties
UNICS captain Dmitry Kulagin played for Loko from 2017 to 2020. The Kazan team guard Denis Zakharov had the 2016/17 season with the Krasnodar team.
Last summer, Vince Hunter moved from St. Petersburg to Krasnodar. In 2023, the American bigman helped Kazan team to win the VTB United League.
Stats
UNICS leads the season in 2-point percentage (57.5) and free throw percentage (79.6), as well as in average rebounds (38.4).
Lokomotiv Kuban is at first place in steals, averaging 9.2 per game.
Patrick Miller (19.6 points, 7th place), Marcus Bingham (21.1 points, 2nd) and Jalen Reynolds (20.4 points, 6th place) are among the most efficient players in the League.
The teams have played each other most often in the VTB United League.
