By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
CSKA blew out Nizhny Novgorod, 84-59, to gain the 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series of the VTB United League Playoffs Quarterfinals. Gabriel Lundberg had 14 points, Johannes Voigtmann a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double plus five assists, and Nikita Kurbanov finished with 13 points. The hosts trailed by one point at the break but build plenty of distance in the second half of Game 1.
Lokomotiv Kuban came back from a 13-point deficit to defeat Khimki, 89-80, in the earliest playoff match. Mindaugas Kuzminskas scored a game-high 23 points. Nigel Williams-Goss packing 20 points and 11 assists, and Drew Gordon with 13 points and 14 rebounds, posted double-doubles for the 1-0 lead. On the losing end, Alexey Shved in his return to action after a lengthy injury layoff shared a team-high 19 points with Errick McCollum and also dished out 11 assists.
In other action, top-seed Zenit routed Parma, 86-66. All five starters scored in double-digits with Kevin Pangos topping the list with 17 points. The former Gonzaga standout also made eight assists. Tarik Black followed with 12 points.
Photo Credit: VTB League