Pre-game breakdown
CSKA leads the EuroLeague in scoring with 90.5 points per game this season after defeating Real Madrid, previous top-scoring team.
The Red-Blues coaching staff took 13 players to Vitoria. Young man Andrey Lopatin stayed at home together with Will Clyburn who is bothered by the knee injury. It will be the first ever missed EuroLeague game for Will after 80 in a row played for Darussafaka and CSKA.
Patricio Garino is out with a knee injury and scheduled to return in January 2019.
Pre-game quotes
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
It is always difficult to play in Vitoria, Baskonia has a real home-court advantage there. We know their strengths, their qualities. And we will be ready.
Nando De Colo, CSKA guard:
It will be a tough game as all EuroLeague games. Even though Baskonia lost some games recently, we know that they have a good team and they are fighters. It is also difficult to play in their gym, the fans really help their home team. So we have to be ready for that and play our game.
Referees
Ilija Belosevic (Serbia, crew chief), Olegs Latyshevs (Latvia), Carmelo Paternico (Italy).
Close relations
Nando De Colo and Baskonia forward Toko Shengelia were teammates at Valencia Basket during the 2009-10 season and won the 2010 EuroCup title together.
Daniel Hackett and Baskonia sharpshooter Matt Janning were teammates at Montepaschi Siena during the 2012-13 season.
Important numbers
Coach Itoudis has used 10 different players in CSKA’s starting lineup this season; only Othello Hunter has started in every EuroLeague game.
Sergio Rodriguez has made at least 1 three-point shot in each of his last 16 EuroLeague games.
Rodriguez ranks fifth in the EuroLeague in assists this season with 5.6 per game and fifth in EuroLeague history with 984 career assists. Barcelona point guard Thomas Heurtel is fourth with 1,061 assists and counting.
Cory Higgins has scored in double figures in 17 consecutive EuroLeague games. He is ranked third in the league in scoring this season with 17.3 points per game.
Nando De Colo leads all qualified players this season in free throw accuracy at 93.8%. He is the EuroLeague career leader in free throw accuracy at 93.66%.
Alec Peters has made multiple three-pointers in seven of his last eight games. He is shooting 21 for 33 from downtown (63.6%) over that stretch. He leads the EuroLeague this season in three-point accuracy at 63.6%.
Will Clyburn has scored at least 10 points in seven straight EuroLeague games. Clyburn has collected at least 1 steal in seven of CSKA’s last eight EuroLeague games. Clyburn has made 15 consecutive free throws in EuroLeague games.
Will Clyburn is fifth in the EuroLeague this season in average index rating at 18.7 per game.
Clyburn is third in the EuroLeague this season in rebounding with 6.9 per game.
Kyle Hines is ranked fourth in EuroLeague history with 190 blocked shots. Ioannis Bourousis is third with 194 blocks.
Hines is ranked 12th in competition history with 1,057 rebounds. Former teammate Victor Khryapa is ranked 11th with 1,070 boards.
Past matchups
Wins-losses: 26-7
2001-02 – Euroleague. Top 16: TAU Ceramica – CSKA: 73-87 (+14)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – TAU Ceramica: 73-90 (-17)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Top 16: TAU Ceramica – CSKA: 77-80 (+3)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – TAU Ceramica: 84-82 (+2)
2004-05 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – TAU Ceramica: 88-83 (+5)
2004-05 – Euroleague. Regular season: TAU Ceramica – CSKA: 81-85 (+4)
2004-05 – Euroleague. Final Four. Semifinal: CSKA – TAU Ceramica: 78-85 (-7)
2005-06 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – TAU Ceramica: 82-76 (+6)
2005-06 – Euroleague. Top 16: TAU Ceramica – CSKA: 70-63 (-7)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Regular season: TAU Ceramica – CSKA: 76-85 (+9)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – TAU Ceramica: 70-62 (+8)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Final Four. Semifinal: TAU Ceramica – CSKA: 79-83 (+4)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Regular season: Caja Laboral – CSKA: 67-71 (+4)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Caja Laboral: 84-83 (+1)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Caja Laboral: 86-63 (+23)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Caja Laboral: 83-63 (+20)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: Caja Laboral – CSKA: 66-53 (-13)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: Caja Laboral – CSKA: 70-74 (+4)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Caja Laboral: 89-78 (+11)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Caja Laboral: 90-68 (+22)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: Caja Laboral – CSKA: 93-72 (-21)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: Caja Laboral – CSKA: 85-94 (+9)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Laboral Kutxa: 99-90 (+9)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Top 16: Laboral Kutxa – CSKA: 74-81 (+7)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Top 16: Laboral Kutxa – CSKA: 81-71 (-10)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Laboral Kutxa: 90-78 (+12)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular Season: CSKA – Baskonia: 112-84 (+28)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular Season: Baskonia – CSKA: 79-78 (-1)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Baskonia: 98-90 (+8)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Baskonia: 84-82 (+2)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: Baskonia – CSKA: 88-90 (+2)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular Season: Baskonia – CSKA: 81-90 (+9)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular Season: CSKA – Baskonia: 93-86 (+7)
Short dossier
Baskonia Vitoria, Spain
Founded: 1959
Colors: red, dark blue, white
Home arena: Fernando Buesa Arena (15,504)
President: Jose Antonio Querejeta
Head coach: Velimir Perasovic
Website: www.baskonia.com
Trophy case: 2-time Spanish champion (2002, 08); 5-time Copa del Rey winner (1995, 99, 2002, 04, 06); 4-time Spanish SuperCup winner (2005, 06, 07, 08); Saporta Cup winner (1996)
