Neptunas are doing everything they can to be the lovable underdog of the VTB United League but CSKA Moscow remain the class of the league. Lietuvos Rytas meanwhile secured an important win over Lokomotiv Kuban, just four days before the sides meet again in Euroleague.
Omar Cook had 7 assists and Juan Palacios scored 12 as Lietuvos Rytas won a defensive struggle with Lokomotiv Kuban. The Krasnodar club managed to convert just 28 per cent of their shots from the field including a vile 4 of 16 from three-point range. The victory doesn’t just move the Lithuanian side to 2-0, it gives them a big mental advantage before Thursday’s clash with the same opponents in Euroleague.
CSKA Moscow, who had a lucky escape at Nanterre on Thursday, made much lighter work of Astana. A hot start meant the Russians looked to be in control but Astana dragged themselves back into the game and trailed by just a point entering the final frame. The Kazakhs however were out of gas and a 27-10 fourth quarter gave CSKA a comfortable 72-54 win. It was a balanced display but CSKA with Sonny Weems, Nenad Krstic, and Viktor Khryapa carrying the load for much of the game.
Tsmoki-Minsk won a thriller at the expense of Neptunas in the second round of action in the VTB League. The Belarus side condemned the Lithuanians to their second straight heartbreaking loss with a 91-90 win. Neptunas, who lost in overtime a week ago, trailed early but came back well to make a fight of the road contest. Martynas Mazeika, who had 17 points and 4 assists, had the chance to win the game for the visitors late but he couldn’t make the final bucket and the home side held to edge Neptunas 91-90 and take their second straight win, a remarkable early start considering they had just three wins in the league in the whole of last season.
Andrew Goodeluck was the charm for UNICS Kazan as they rolled to an 86-77 win over Enisey Krasnoyarsk. Goodeluck had 23 points and 6 assist in the win, bringing Kazan to 2-0 for the season.
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