CSKA — Pari NN, 15 May 2021

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

The last time the Army Team was pressed with their backs to the wall was back in 2014. In those postseason it happened twice: first, the red-and-blues needed the fifth game at home to defeat Panathinaikos in the Euroleague, then, in the VTB League, everyone was surprised by Lokomotiv-Kuban, that won the first two games of the quarterfinal series in Moscow, and CSKA had to win three in a row to advance to the next round.

Same players are available for the coaching staff. Nikola Milutinov and Joel Bolomboy continue to recover after injuries. Janis Strelnieks is not on the VTB United League roster.

WORD TO THE COACH

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

This game is like a final. It's a tie series, and they play tough. We shot the ball pretty poor, from threes and free throws, and we are not going to be like that. We are determined and decisive, we know what we have to do and we are going to do it tomorrow.

PAST MATCHUPS

Win-loss record: 30-4
2020-21 season games:
03-Jan-2021. N.Novgorod – CSKA: 63-83 (+20)
25-Apr-2021. CSKA – N.Novgorod: 85-84 (+1)
11-May-2021. CSKA – N.Novgorod: 84-59 (+25)
13-May-2021. N.Novgorod – CSKA: 76-72 (+4)

SHORT DOSSIER

BC Nizhny Novgorod

Founded: 2000
Colors: white, black
Homecourt: Labor Unions Palace of Sports (5,000)
CEO: Alexander Khairetdinov
Head coach: Zoran Lukic
Website: www.nn-basket.ru
Accomplishments: VTB United League runner-ups (2014), Russian Championship runner-up (2014), Superleague B champion (2010), Russian Cup finalists (2011)