CSKA One Step From Title

CSKA Moscow defeated UNICS Kazan, 90-77, in Game 2 of the finals. The score was close for three quarters. Desperate for a win, UNICS threw everything it had at CSKA, but couldn't break down the reigning champs. Trailing by three, the visitors gave up a big run to start the 4th quarter. CSKA went on to win, securing a 2-0 lead as the series shifts to Kazan.

Intro
The finals continued in Moscow with Game 2. The first half featured a moderate tempo and halfcourt offense from both teams.

CSKA showed off its chemistry and ball movement, making it difficult for Kazan to plug holes on defense (Pavel Korobkov scored nine points in the paint; Nando De Colo had 11 on jumpers).

The visitors stuck to CSKA's tempo, refusing to rush on offense and doing a good job of sharing the ball. UNICS outrebounded CSKA by eight (11-3) on the offensive glass, making up for somewhat lackluster shooting.

Kazan, however, struggled in the final minutes of the half, scoring only four points over a four-minute stretch. CSKA's lead doubled to nine, 49-40, giving the Army Men a comfortable edge at halftime.

The 3rd quarter belonged to UNICS. 10 points from Keith Langford, four 3-pointers, smart defense and a boost from Petr Gubanov off the bench helped Kazan cut the deficit to three entering the 4th quarter.

Turning Point
CSKA quickly regained control. The Army Men took their defense to another level in the final period, while Aaron Jackson unexpectedly chipped in with six points. A 15-6 run put CSKA back on top by 12, the biggest lead of the game to date.

Kazan failed to respond. Viktor Khryapa knocked down a couple 3's to keep UNICS at bay and the home team had little trouble cruising to victory in the final minutes. Kazan simply didn't have the firepower to match the Army Men, suffering a 13-point defeat to fall behind 2-0 in the best-of-five series.

Star Player
Viktor Khryapa. Despite a pair of broken bones this season, the CSKA captain is back. He played smart fundamental basketball against UNICS, helping out on both ends of the court. he finished with 19 points, six rebounds and two steals.

Stat of the Game
100 - Khryapa's shooting percentage. He scored 19 points in 30 minutes, converting four times inside the arc, three times from outside and twice from the line for a perfect night.

Snapshot