Shved’s best-ever performance with CSKA secures the win over UNICS in the Russian derby / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Roman Kruchinin/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Roman Kruchinin/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Alexey Shved had his best game with CSKA Moscow (13-8) jersey and led his team to a victory.

Player of the Game EFF 28 Nikola Milutinov Points 17 Accuracy 6-7 Rebounds 7 Assists 2

Dimitris Itoudis’ team 86-75 (16-20, 21-12, 27-25, 22-18) beat the UNICS Kazan (12-9) in the Russian derby. UNICS won the first game 88-67 and kept the advantage in case of a tie-break situation.

Shved finished the game with a season-high 27 points (3/4 2PT, 6/10 3PT, 3/4 FT), 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, and 23 PIR.

"We are just happy to win because we lost (against UNICS) two times this season," Shved said in his post-game interview. "They are playing really great this season. They play fast, shoot a lot of threes, and actually, I like their basketball. But we came here to win and we are happy to beat them tonight."

For a short time, CSKA had a double-digit lead in the third quarter (50-40), but UNICS answered back at the beginning of the fourth.

Jarrell Brantley made a lay-up, Mario Hezonja scored 5 points in a row, and after a 7-1 run, the hosts cut the deficit to just 1 point with 5:32 remaining (64-65).

However, CSKA had the final word. Both Shved and Will Clyburn sank a 3-pointer, and with 2:38 remaining, the visitors took a 7-point lead (75-68).

UNICS managed to get within 5 points with 1 minute remaining, but Nikola Milutinov made a putback, Will Clyburn made both free throws and secured the victory for CSKA (82-73).

"Congratulations to the team and players. They were really determined," Itoudis said after the win. "They were really decisive. They came over here with a mindset to play a tough game, to try to win that battle and we managed to be the better team, especially in the second quarter, when we did not give up easy points. I think we deserved the win, so congratulations to the players."

UNIKS Kazan / Schedule

Real Madrid UNIKS Kazan85-68 UNIKS Kazan CSKA Moscow75-86 ALBA Berlin UNIKS KazanWed19:00 Zalgiris Kaunas UNIKS Kazan02-0418:00

Clyburn made his return after a one-month-long break and accumulated 16 points (1/4 2PT, 2/6 3PT, 8/8 FT), 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 6 drawn fouls, and 20 PIR.

Milutinov added 17 points (6/7 2PT, 5/8 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 8 drawn fouls, and 28 PIR.

"First of all, congratulations to CSKA. They played very smartly today," noted Velimir Perasovic. "On offense, they always found the way to take last-second shots and they played solid defense, so today they deserved the victory."

Lorenzo Brown led the way for UNICS as he finished the game with 21 points (7/13 2PT, 1/3 3PT, 4/5 FT), 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 1 block, 6 drawn fouls, and 26 PIR.

Hezonja accumulated 21 points (6/9 2PT, 3/9 3PT), 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers, and 19 PIR.

UNICS: Lorenzo Brown 21 (7/13 2PT, 9 AST, 26 PIR), Mario Hezonja 21 (6/9 2PT, 3/9 3PT, 9 REB, 19 PIR), Tonye Jekiri 11 (4/5 2PT).

CSKA: Alexey Shved 27 (3/4 2PT, 6/10 3PT, 23 PIR), Nikola Milutinov 17 (6/7 2PT, 7 REB, 28 PIR), Will Clyburn 16 (1/4 2PT, 2/6 3PT, 20 PIR).

Highlights

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