Pre-game breakdown
The coaching staff took a dozen of the players to Israel. Mikhail Kulagin continues his post-injury rehab. Joel Bolomboy is still waiting for the decision on his Russian citizenship, he will practice in Moscow individually. Andrey Lopatin and Alexander Khomenko will play for juniors.
Maccabi is expected to miss ex-Army Man Jeremy Pargo due to back problems.
Pre-game quotes
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
Maccabi is completely different team this year, they became obviously stronger in comparison to last season. They are quick, aggressive and well-coached. Definitely their go-to guys are perimeter players like Wilbekin, Roll and Pargo. They also have great defenders like Kane and a set of a big men of different type, I can mention practically anyone here. They played well in their first game against Panathinaikos and lost in the very end. This is why they will be extremely dangerous at home in front of the full stands. We come to Tel Aviv to fight on the court.
Cory Higgins, CSKA guard/forward:
We expect it to be a very physical and intense game. We know it is going to be a full arena so we have to be ready and focused to play great game on both sides of the ball.
“Relativity” connections
Nando De Colo played under current Maccabi head coach Neven Spahija at Valencia Basket during the 2009-2010 season. They won the 2010 EuroCup title together.
Will Clyburn and Scottie Wilbekin were teammates at Darussafaka Istanbul in 2016-17 season. They helped the team reach the EuroLeague Playoffs.
Jeremy Pargo played for CSKA during the 2014-15 season and won the VTB United League with the club. Only Kyle Hines and Andrey Vorontsevich remain from Pargo’s time with the club.
Important numbers
Nando De Colo has made 22 consecutive free throws in EuroLeague action. He is the EuroLeague career leader in free throw accuracy at 93.73%.
De Colo needs 5 more three-pointers to reach the 200 milestone for his EuroLeague career.
Sergio Rodriguez has made 22 consecutive free throws in EuroLeague action.
Rodriguez has hit at least 1 three-point shot in each of his last eight EuroLeague games.
Sergio Rodriguez is sixth in EuroLeague history with 938 career assists. Former CSKA great and EuroLeague MVP Theo Papaloukas is fifth with 977 assists.
Cory Higgins has made a three-pointer in each of his last six EuroLeague appearances.
Kyle Hines is ranked fourth in EuroLeague history with 183 blocked shots. Anadolu Efes Istanbul center Bryant Dunston is third with 188 blocks.
Hines is 57 points shy of reaching the 2,000-point milestone for his EuroLeague career.
Past matchups
Taking into account three technical defeats suffered in 70s due to political situation, CSKA prevailed in 24 games out of 42.
1974-75 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: (CSKA technical defeat)
1974-75 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: (CSKA technical defeat)
1976-77 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 79-91 (-12)
1976-77 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: (CSKA technical defeat)
1980-81 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 83-81 (+2)
1980-81 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 85-74 (-11)
1982-83 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-84 (-4)
1982-83 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 69-78 (+9)
1984-85 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 81-87 (-6)
1984-85 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 67-79 (+12)
1988-89 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 92-97 (-5)
1988-89 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 94-90 (-4)
1994-95 – European Championship for Club Teams. Semifinal Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 87-78 (+9)
1994-95 – European Championship for Club Teams. Semifinal Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 92-89 ÎÒ (-3)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 89-80 (+9)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 77-78 (+1)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 71-63 (+8)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 87-69 (-18)
2000-01 – Suproleague. Semifinal: Maccabi – CSKA: 86-80 (-6)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Top 16: Maccabi – CSKA: 69-68 (-1)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Maccabi: 81-77 (+4)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 84-87 (+3)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-83 (-3)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Semifinal: Maccabi – CSKA: 93-85 (-8)
2005-06 – Euroleague. Final: CSKA – Maccabi: 73-69 (+4)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-58 (+22)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: Maccabi – CSKA: 68-56 (-12)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Maccabi: 92-71 (+21)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Final: Maccabi – CSKA: 77-91 (+14)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 71-54 (-17)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 77-72 (+5)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Maccabi: 100-65 (+35)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Top 16: Maccabi – CSKA: 76-81 (+5)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Semifinal: CSKA – Maccabi: 67-68 (-1)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 99-80 (+18)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 61-84 (+23)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 100-69 (+31)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 82-88 (+6)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 76-80 (+4)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 93-81 (+12)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 101-86 (+15)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 73-93 (+20)
Short dossier
Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel
Founded: 1932
Colors: yellow, blue
Home court: Menora Mivtachim Arena (11,000)
President: Shimon Mizrahi
Head coach: Neven Spahija
Website: www.maccabi.co.il
Trophy case: 5-time Euroleague champion (1977, 81, 2004, 05, 14), Suproleague champion (2001), Adriatic League champion (2012), Intercontinental Cup winner (1980), Israeli champion (1954, 55, 57-59, 62-64, 67, 68, 70-92, 94-2007, 09, 11, 12, 14, 18), Israeli Cup winner (1956, 58, 59, 61, 63-66, 70-73, 75, 77-83, 85-87, 89-91, 94, 98-2006, 10-17)
