CSKA — Pari NN, 25 April 2021

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

At the end of the tournament, the Army Team can finish third (if UNICS beats Lokomotiv-Kuban) or fourth. One way or another, CSKA will have a home court advantage only in the first stage of the playoffs.

After two tough victories over Fenerbahce, the coaching staff did not burden the team with a serious practice. Only a part of the players, who had spent significant minutes the day before, had a shootaround, the rest only attended the video session. Only young guys and guys from CSKA-2 have fully worked on the court.

Nikola Milutinov and Joel Bolomboy remain on the list of injured for the Red-Blues. Janis Strelnieks is not included in the VTB United League roster.

WORD TO THE COACH

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

Nizhny is a team that plays serious basketball, I really like the way they play offensively and defensively. Definitely, we have our priorities and we plan to rest some players, but we also want to show respect to the game and our opponents.

PAST MATCHUPS

Win-loss record: 28-3
2020-21 season game:
03-Jan-2021. N.Novgorod – CSKA: 63-83 (+20)

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)