Pre-game breakdown
Leo Westermann continues rehabilitation after removal of hematoma on his left hip. Pavel Korobkov (foot) also stays out of action.
Zvezda has no players out due to injury. The team already used 15 players in EuroLeague this season.
Pre-game quotes
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
We have another tough game ahead of us. Zvezda is even more competitive this year, they play really well both on the road and (especially) at home. They play with ambition, desire and vision. We have to be ready for difficult game, to be focused on things we do best.
Kyle Hines, CSKA center:
It’s a big opportunity for us to show how we can play in this kind of environment. We have an experience of playing there, we know what it’s like. Zvezda is an energetic team with great balance of young and experienced players. We have not only to match their energy but also to stay composed and play our game.
“Relativity” connections
Marko Keselj played for Girona with CSKA assistant coach Darryl Middleton in 2006-07 season.
Kyle Hines was teammates for two seasons with Zvezda big man Pero Antic at Olympiacos Piraeus, where they won a pair of EuroLeague titles together in 2012 and 2013.
Zvezda playmaker Taylor Rochestie and CSKA big man Othello Hunter were teammates at Montepaschi Siena for the first part of the 2013-14 season.
Rochestie played for Nizhny Novgorod together with two army men – Pavel Korobkov (2014) and Semen Antonov (2014-15).
Important numbers
Nando De Colo has made 34 consecutive free throws in EuroLeague action. He is the EuroLeague career leader in free throw accuracy at 93.64%.
De Colo is ranked second among qualified EuroLeague players this season in average performance index rating with 20.8 per game.
De Colo is ranked fourth with 16.3 points per contest this season.
Will Clyburn is ranked third among qualified EuroLeague players this season in average index rating with 19.8 per game.
Othello Hunter is tied for the league-lead in offensive rebounds with 4.0 per game this season.
Andrey Vorontsevich needs 1 offensive rebound to reach 200 for his EuroLeague career.
Vitaly Fridzon needs 2 three-pointers to reach 200 for his EuroLeague career.
Sergio Rodriguez is ranked 10th all-time on the EuroLeague assists charts with 783, behind his former Spanish national teammate Juan Carlos Navarro (798 and counting) of FC Barcelona Lassa.
Past matchups
Wins-losses: 10-1
1969-70 – European Champions Cup. Group stage. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 82-85 (+3)
1969-70 – European Champions Cup. Group stage. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 105-92 (+7)
1972-73 – European Champions Cup. Semifinals. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 90-98 (+8)
1972-73 – European Champions Cup. Semifinals. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 100-83 (+17)
1999-00 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 86-62 (+24)
1999-00 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 65-80 (+15)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 84-74 (+10)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 77-76 (+1)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 71-78 (+7)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Crvena Zvezda – CSKA: 78-67 (-11)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Crvena Zvezda: 102-80 (+22)
Short dossier
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, Serbia
Founded: 1945
Colors: white, red
Homecourt: Kombank Arena (25.000)
President: Nebojsa Covic
Head coach: Dusan Alimpijevic
Website: www.kkcrvenazvezda.rs
Trophy case:
- Cup Winners Cup (1974);
- ABA Champion (2015, 16, 17);
- 15-time Yugoslavian champion (1946, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 69, 72, 93, 94, 98);
- 3-time Yugoslavian Cup winner (1971, 73, 75);
- Serbian champion (2015, 17);
- Serbian Cup winner (2004, 06, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
