Maccabi — CSKA, 10 February 2022

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

The Army Men still miss several injured players. In fact, Dimitris Itoudis’ comeback is the only addition after the recent games. Dimitris was in helm during the last practice before the departure. The second team players Alexander Evseev and Yuri Umrikhin took part in the session too.

The team approached the meeting in Moscow with different mood: CSKA lost 5 in a row (including 3 in EuroLeague) at the moment while Maccabi was on the winning streak. Now the situation stabilized. The red-and-blues are in the playoff zone while the ‘yellows’ are still fighting for the Top 8 spot.

PRE-GAME QUOTES

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

It's good to be back. I congratulate the coaching staff and the players for competitiveness in mind and the effort they have gave [in previous games]. I am not 100 per cent recovered but I miss the team, so I am here. Most important thing is the players to be healthy. We are shorthanded but we keep fighting, the team has played four overtimes in a short period of time. We have another battle in front of us. Maccabi plays stronger, tougher on its home court with the help of their fans. We know the difficulties, we will see the situations and we will solve them one at a time.

Marius Grigonis, CSKA guard:

Every team in EuroLeague has tough schedule, lot oа games, we have no exception. We had a day off and today was not so hard practice because we need to rest. We watched video to prepare for the game. Maccabi is a fast-paced team, it has a lot of talented players. Like in every game, who wants it more, wins it.

“RELATIVITY” CONNECTIONS

Will Clyburn, Maccabi’s Scottie Wilbekin and Ante Zizic were teammates at Darussafaka Istanbul during the 2016-17 season. They helped the team reach the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Nikola Milutinov played under current Maccabi head coach Giannis Sfairopoulos during his tenure with Olympiacos, for three seasons from 2015 to 2018. They reached the 2017 championship game together.

Daniel Hackett played under current Sfairopoulos at Olympiacos Piraeus for two seasons, from 2015 to 2017.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Will Clyburn has made at least 1 three-point shot in eight of his last nine games.

Will Clyburn ranks seventh in scoring this season with 14.9 per game.

Marius Grigonis has made at least 1 three-point shot in seven of his last eight games.

Marius Grigonis ranks 10th this season in three-point accuracy at 43.4%.

Grigonis has made 15 consecutive free throws.

Marius Grigonis is ranked second all-time in free throw accuracy at 92.6%.

Nikola Milutinov has collected multiple offensive rebounds in 12 straight games.

Milutinov has grabbed 5 or more rebounds in 10 of his last 11 games.

Nikola Milutinov ranks fifth in rebounding with 6.5 per game and leads the league in offensive rebounding with 2.9 per game.

Milutinov ranks sixth all-time with 508 offensive rebounds. Ante Tomic is fifth with 520.

Shved is seventh all-time with 459 three-point shots made for his career. Milos Teodosic is sixth with 471.

Shved ranks 10th all-time in scoring with 3,002 points. Felipe Reyes is ninth with 3,029.

Shved is in 11th place all-time with 609 free throws made for his career. Mike James of AS Monaco is 10th with 618 and counting.

Shved ranks 12th on the all-time charts with 868 assists. Nikos Zisis is 11th with 885.

PAST MATCHUPS

Taking into account three technical defeats suffered in 70s due to political situation, CSKA prevailed in 28 games out of 47.

1974-75 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: (CSKA technical defeat)
1974-75 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: (CSKA technical defeat)
1976-77 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 79-91 (-12)
1976-77 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: (CSKA technical defeat)
1980-81 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 83-81 (+2)
1980-81 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 85-74 (-11)
1982-83 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-84 (-4)
1982-83 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 69-78 (+9)
1984-85 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 81-87 (-6)
1984-85 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 67-79 (+12)
1988-89 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 92-97 (-5)
1988-89 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 94-90 (-4)
1994-95 – European Championship for Club Teams. Semifinal Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 87-78 (+9)
1994-95 – European Championship for Club Teams. Semifinal Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 92-89 ОТ (-3)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 89-80 (+9)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 77-78 (+1)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 71-63 (+8)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 87-69 (-18)
2000-01 – Suproleague. Semifinal: Maccabi – CSKA: 86-80 (-6)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Top 16: Maccabi – CSKA: 69-68 (-1)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Maccabi: 81-77 (+4)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 84-87 (+3)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-83 (-3)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Semifinal: Maccabi – CSKA: 93-85 (-8)
2005-06 – Euroleague. Final: CSKA – Maccabi: 73-69 (+4)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-58 (+22)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: Maccabi – CSKA: 68-56 (-12)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Maccabi: 92-71 (+21)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Final: Maccabi – CSKA: 77-91 (+14)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 71-54 (-17)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 77-72 (+5)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Maccabi: 100-65 (+35)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Top 16: Maccabi – CSKA: 76-81 (+5)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Semifinal: CSKA – Maccabi: 67-68 (-1)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 99-80 (+18)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 61-84 (+23)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 100-69 (+31)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 82-88 (+6)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 76-80 (+4)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 93-81 (+12)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 101-86 (+15)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 73-93 (+20)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 86-89 (+3)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 76-93 (-17)
2019-20 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 90-80 (-10)
2020-21 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 76-72 (+4)
2020-21 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 80-84 (+4)
2021-22 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 74-73 (+1)

SHORT DOSSIER

Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel
Founded: 1932
Colors: yellow, blue
Home court: Menora Mivtachim Arena (11,000)
President: Shimon Mizrahi
Head coach: Giannis Sfairopoulos
Website: www.maccabi.co.il
Trophy case: 5-time Euroleague champion (1977, 81, 2004, 05, 14), Suproleague champion (2001), Adriatic League champion (2012), Intercontinental Cup winner (1980), Israeli champion (1954, 55, 57-59, 62-64, 67, 68, 70-92, 94-2007, 09, 11, 12, 14, 18-21), Israeli Cup winner (1956, 58, 59, 61, 63-66, 70-73, 75, 77-83, 85-87, 89-91, 94, 98-2006, 10-17, 21)