Basketball
Tarakanov: “UNICS is the favorite in the seventh game of the semi-final with Lokomotiv-Kuban, but I wouldn’t put all the money on it”
Sergey Tarakanov / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Alexander Natruskin
Olympic champion Sergei Tarakanov believes that UNICS Kazan has a better chance of winning in the seventh match of the VTB United League semi-final series with Lokomotiv-Kuban.
The seventh match of the VTB United League semi-final UNICS – Lokomotiv-Kuban will take place on May 22 in Kazan. The game starts at 19.00 (Moscow time). The score in the best-of-four series is 3-3.
Earlier, CSKA reached the final of the tournament, having won the semi-final series against Zenit (4-2).
— Before the start of the playoffs, you said that UNICS was the favorite in the fight for the title. Now, before the seventh match of the Kazan team in the semi-finals, are you going back on your words?
— Of course, the seventh match is an unpredictable story. But I still think UNICS is the favorite. Moreover, they play at home. Especially after such a resounding slap in the face in the sixth game. Such defeats damage one’s self-esteem. But I won’t be surprised if Lokomotiv-Kuban wins. The teams are equal. There are only compliments to the United League for such an unpredictable championship that is incredibly interesting for fans.
— Loko and UNICS played in last year’s final, and then the Kazan team needed five matches to win. Now it’s time to the seventh game. What has changed in the balance of power?
— Unfortunately, for me, as a fan, Lokomotiv’s starting five often includes only foreign players. But it seems to me that it is impossible to win the championship only with foreigners. Russians contribute, they give passion, emotions, desire. Of course, it’s up to the coach to decide. It’s just that the Krasnodar team has always been an example of how to pull up and develop young people. In the current playoffs, the club often retreats from this line.
I repeat, from my point of view, UNICS is the favorite, but, as I always say, I’m not ready to put all my money on it,” Rossiyskaya Gazeta quotes Tarakanov as saying.
Watch the live broadcast of the UNICS – Lokomotiv-Kuban meeting on Wednesday from 18:30 on the Match TV and Match! Game”, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
Source: Sportbox
I am a sports journalist who has been writing for a news website since 2015. My work primarily focuses on sports news, but I have also written about other topics such as technology and the arts. I have an extensive background in journalism, having worked as a reporter for a local newspaper before moving to a news website.
On 30 November, a series of matches of the 12th round of the regular season were played as part of the EuroCup.
“Shlensk” Issouf Sanona It played away against Cluj-Napoca and was defeated in the tie game, where the leader changed 18 times. The decisive factor in the match was Miletic’s two-point shot with 2 seconds left, which gave the home team a 94:92 victory.
Sanon spent 18 minutes on the field and became the team’s most productive player, scoring 17 points (5/6 free throws, 3/6 two-pointers, 2/7 three-pointers) during this time. Issouf also had 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.
“Buducnost” Alexandra Kovlyara It played at home against Türk Telekom and lost the first quarter 20:23, but won the next three quarters to achieve an overwhelming victory with a score of 91:81.
While Kovlyar played 9 minutes, he had 1 rebound and 2 assists.
European Cup. Regular season. 12th round, 30 December
Cluj-Napoca – Slensk – 94:92 (22:17, 27:34, 21:23, 24:18)
Cluj-Napoca: Russell (30 points + 7 rebounds + 7 assists), Miletic (19+14+5), Guzman (14+5+1), Molinar (13+1+4), Siser (7+6+1), Kulvetis (5+4+1), Woodbury (3+2+2), Patrick (3+1+1).
Shlensk: Sanon (17+4+4), Kirkwood (16+7+3), Djordjevic (16+9+2), Penawa (13+3+1), Niesel (8+4+3), Kulikowski (6+1+2), Urbaniak (6+7 rebounds), Czerniewicz (5+1 assists), Nunez (3+4+1), Wisniewski (1+2+1).
Budućnost – Türk Telekom – 91:81 (20:23, 24:21, 20:18, 27:19)
Budućnost: Sulaimon (25+1+1), Tanaskovic (17+13+1), Ferrell (16+4+3), Mace (15+2+5), Butey (8+2 rebounds), Mega (5), Jovanovic (2+1 rebounds), Thompson (2+3 rebounds), Butsiel (1+2 rebounds), Kovlyar (1 rebound + 2 assists).
Turk Telekom: Smith (18+1+1), Allman (17+3+4), Özdemiroğlu (12+5 assists), Bankston (9+5+1), Deveaux (7+2 rebounds), Trifunovic (6+1 rebounds), Alexander (4+5 rebounds), Durmaz (4+1 assists), Simonovic (4+4+1), Usher (3 rebounds + 2 assists).
Source: Sport UA
Ralph Bean is a writer for Sportish. Ralph has written about sports news for the last two years, and is currently an author on the site. He enjoys writing about sports, and hopes to cover more stories in the future.
Denver Nuggets announced Nikola Jokic He will miss at least four weeks due to left knee hyperextension.
The Serb is expected to miss all 18 matches in January and his maximum appearances this season could be limited to 64 matches. So Jokic will lose the opportunity to compete for the NBA’s main prizes – MVP and inclusion in the All-NBA, as this requires playing at least 65 games in the regular season.
Theoretically, he could return for the January 31 game against the Brooklyn Nets, which would give Nikola the opportunity to play 65 games before the end of the season, but that scenario is unlikely.
Jokic was injured in the last seconds of the first half of the match against Miami Heat (123:147) and did not return to the field after a long break. Before his injury, he managed to score 21 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds in just 19 minutes.
Jokic averaged 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists per game this season.
Source: Sport UA
Ralph Bean is a writer for Sportish. Ralph has written about sports news for the last two years, and is currently an author on the site. He enjoys writing about sports, and hopes to cover more stories in the future.
Denver Nuggets announced Nikola Jokic He will miss at least four weeks due to a left knee injury.
Star center was diagnosed with left knee hyperextension. At the same time, tests confirmed that the three-time NBA MVP’s knee ligaments remained intact.
Jokic was injured in the final seconds of the first half of the 123-147 loss to the Miami Heat and limped heavily on his way to the locker room. He did not return to the site after a long time.
Before his injury, Nikola managed to produce 21 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds in just 19 minutes on the field.
Losing Jokic could be a big blow for Denver, as starters Christian Braun (ankle injury), Aaron Gordon (hip issue) and Cam Johnson (knee injury) remain sidelined.
Jokic averaged 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists per game this season.
Injury Update: Nikola Jokić suffered a Hyperextension injury in his Left Knee in last night’s match against Miami Heat. Nikola will be re-evaluated in four weeks. pic.twitter.com/NIDmlKAN81
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 30, 2025
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has written for various websites and magazines. I currently work as an author at Sportish, a news website that covers sports news. My main focus is writing about soccer, rugby and other sports in the world.
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