Pre-game breakdown
The Army Men got back from Istanbul with Aeroflot flight and hosted a practice on Megasport floor later at night. It included tactical and shooting drills.
Ivan Ukhov and Andrey Lopatin worked out with the main team after playing for the second team.
Pre-game quotes
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
We play back-to-back games so as always it is important to recover quickly, to play with right energy and mindset. Maccabi is an athletic and aggressive team, with lots of talent, the team that is able to create offensively in many different ways. They have new coaching situation, they’ve changed their game so we have to make quick all necessary adjustments. Hopefully, we will get some extra energy boost from our home crowd, so I am asking everyone to come to Megasport and support the team.
Alec Peters, CSKA forward:
We expect a tough game. We have to build on what we did last night, how we played against Darussafaka defensively, starting the game and throughout entire game, keep control, play hard. That can be the key for us tomorrow is play hard and shoot better from three-point line for sure.
“Relativity” connections
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
Coach Itoudis has used 11 different players in CSKA’s starting lineups this season; no player has started in every EuroLeague game.
Cory Higgins has scored in double figures in 23 of his last 24 EuroLeague games.
Higgins has made at least 1 three-pointer in 11 of his last 12 games.
Cory Higgins is tied second in scoring this season with 15.2 points per game.
Higgins ranks third in three-point accuracy at 55.8%.
Will Clyburn has scored at least 10 points in 13 straight EuroLeague games.
Clyburn has collected at least 1 steal in 13 of CSKA’s last 14 EuroLeague games.
Will Clyburn is third in average PIR with 20.0 per game and ranks fourth in rebounding with 7.1 per game.
Will Clyburn needs 2 rebounds to reach 500 for his career.
Nando De Colo has made at least 1 three-pointer in six straight EuroLeague games.
Daniel Hackett has made at least 1 three-pointer in five of his last six EuroLeague games.
Sergio Rodriguez ranks fifth in assists with 4.9 per game.
Sergio Rodriguez ranks fifth all-time with 1,012 assists for his career. Barcelona point guard Thomas Heurtel is fourth with 1,092 career assists and counting.
Nando De Colo ranks first in free throw accuracy this season with 94.1% He is the EuroLeague career leader in free throw accuracy at 93.69%.
Kyle Hines is third in EuroLeague history with 196 blocked shots. Anadolu Efes big man Bryant Dunston is second with 208 and counting.
Hines is third in EuroLeague history with 474 offensive rebounds.
Hines is ranked 11th in competition history with 1,076 rebounds. Mike Batiste is 10th with 1,117.
Nikita Kurbanov needs 3 more steals to reach 100 for his career.
Past matchups
Taking into account three technical defeats suffered in 70s due to political situation, CSKA prevailed in 25 games out of 43.
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)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 86-89 (+3)
Short dossier
Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel
Founded: 1932
Colors: yellow, blue
Home court: Menora Mivtachim Arena (11,000)
President: Shimon Mizrahi
Head coach: Giannis Sfairopoulos
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)
