Unics Kazan – CSKA Moscow 75-86: Took their blood back

CSKA Moscow found themselves in a difficult position with Unics Kazan after last week’s home defeat by Armani Milan. However, she showed character, leading Alexi Svend (86-75) and claiming the amazing away win against the team of Velimir Perasovic (27 points with 9/14 shots and 3/4 shots) for their 23rd game in EuroLeague.

Dimitris Itoudis’ players may have lost the rebound battle, but they were determined in every personal defense and, thanks to a small outburst, celebrated the double within a few seconds in the 37th minute of the game. A win that now puts CSKA Moscow over Unics Kazan in the standings, with the runners-up having the upper hand in a potential tie in the regular-season final after protecting -at least- the +21 of the win they received in the has game of a round.

Incidentally, Unics Kazan played without Isaiah Kanan, while CSKA Moscow had Tornike Sengelia and Marius Grigonis out of the running. On the other hand, the “bear” was back on the ramparts of Will Claiborne, who was important in the final stretch of the match.

The race

CSKA Moscow started the game great, firing the first four shots and quickly finding themselves at +7 (0-7 in 3′), a lead that didn’t last long. Lorenzo Brown intervened, leading Unics Kazan to the downfall and +4 (20-16) of the first third with continuous personal baskets, leading to the visitors counting back-to-back lost rim shots.

Once they found them and Gabriel Ludberg gave valuable solutions off the bench, everything changed. The “Bear” established a new small lead (22:28 in 15 minutes), taking advantage of the fact that Velimir Perasovic’s team lost their rhythm while Lorenzo Brown sat on the bench to catch his breath. It is characteristic that the hosts remained without a point for around four minutes, which allowed CSKA Moscow to remain in the lead despite the failure of Will Claiborne (0/5) and finish the first part with +5 (32-37 shots) and problems from the Periphery (3/10 threes).

Problems that were fixed very quickly in the second part thanks to Alexis Svend. The 33-year-old guard picked up his gun (3/4 threes in 5′) and was the main reason behind it +10 (40-50 in 25′) of guests, at a time that seemed to dominate. The truth is that if Lorenzo Brown wasn’t standing tall and counterbalancing, the ‘bear’ might have clinched the win an hour earlier. Not tonight, but not in this stadium.

The hosts’ main point guard kept Unics Kazan’s hopes alive in believing he can make it before Mario Hezonia takes over the baton. The former Panathinaikos OPAP striker seemed to have taken it… personally from one point and then. So, despite the poor odds he had on shots inside a kid until the 30th minute of the game (57-64) he took the initiative, went into personal stages and created the thriller of the last four minutes (66-69 in 36 ‘ ).

At the most critical point, rim shots made the difference. Mario Hezonia failed to catch the timer on his own to follow up with two consecutive threes from CSKA Moscow and once again led the difference to +7 (68-75) with two minutes left. Despite Mario Hezonia’s enormous commitment, this lead was not in question until the end, with the “bear” leaving the winner the Basket Hall Kazan and take a deep breath.

THE REFEREES: Jovcic – Javor – Nikolic.

THE TEN MINUTES: 20-16, 32-37, 57-64, 75-86.

UNIKS KAZAN (Perasovic): Spisu, Brown J. 1 (0/3 two points, 1/2 shots, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Brown L. 21 (7/13 two points, 1/3 three points, 4/5 shots , 9 assists), Bradley 9 (4/5 two points), 1/1 shot, 4 rebounds), Hezonia 21 (6/9 two points, 3/9 three points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 5 errors ), Uzinski 8 (2), Jekiri 11 (4/5 two points, 3/4 shots, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks), Meyjo 2 (1/5 shots), Vorontsevich 2 (1/6 shots, 6 rebounds).

CSKA MOSCOW (Itoudis): Ludberg 7 (1/4 threes), Boloboi, Komenko, Hackett 5 (1/5 shot, 3/3 shots, 5 assists), Antonov, Vogtman 8 (1), Claiborne 16 (1/4 two points , 2/6 three points, 8/8 shots, 4 assists), Lopatin, Milutinov 17 (6/7 two points, 5/8 shots, 7 rebounds), Kurbanov 6, Svend 27 (3/4 two points , 6/ 10 three points, 3/4 shots).

Group statistics – Unics Kazan: 24/43 two points, 6/20 three points, 9/12 shots, 33 rebounds (24 defense + 9 offense), 18 assists, 4 steals, 11 errors, 4 blocks.

Group Statistics – CSKA Moscow: 17/29 two points, 10/27 three points, 22/27 shots, 24 rebounds (19 defensive + 5 offensive), 15 assists, 5 steals, 7 errors, 3 blocks.

The next commitments of the teams: Unics Kazan have back-to-back away games against Alba (2/2) and Zalgiris (4/2), while CSKA Moscow returns to the MegaSport Arena to face Anadolu Efes (2/2) and Alba Berlin (4/2). receive. .