Pre-game breakdown
CSKA have won its last four games, including a home win over defending champion Real Madrid in Round 22. On the other hand, the visitors arrive in the middle of their worst streak of the season with seven losses in a row.
Mikhail Kulagin (foot surgery) is out. Nando De Colo and Cory Higgins missed the trip to Perm, they are questionable for the game.
CSKA-2 players Alexander Khomenko, Alexander Gavrilov and Alexander Yershov are participating in the practices.
Pre-game quotes
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
Gran Canaria is a kind of team that never quits, it fights in every game. They are fast, they like to run the floor. Their game definitely depends on quick guards like Hannah and Strawberry, their bigs are also skilled, they can play off creation. Also it should be mentioned that Gran Canaria arrives here in different situation comparing to previous games. Against all other teams they were playing away in the middle of tough schedule. Now they arrive to Moscow after a long break, which they were able to use to rest and prepare for one single game. We have to keep it in mind and be ready for a fight.
Joel Bolomboy, CSKA center:
There was pretty long break since the last game, we had time to prepare, they had even more time. So we have to come out and stick to our game plan.
“Relativity” connections
Daniel Hackett and Othello Hunter teamed up with DJ Strawberry in Olympiacos during 2015-16 season.
Important numbers
Andrei Lopatin is the only player on the CSKA roster without previous EuroLeague experience.
Coach Itoudis has used 11 different players in CSKA’s starting lineups this season; no player has started in every EuroLeague game.
Will Clyburn is fourth in the EuroLeague in average performance index rating with 18.5 per game this season.
Clyburn ranks fourth in the league in rebounding this season with 7.0 per game.
Will Clyburn has collected at least 1 steal in 14 of his last 15 EuroLeague games.
Nando De Colo has made at least 1 three-pointer in 10 of his last 11 EuroLeague appearances.
De Colo has made 22 straight free throws in EuroLeague games.
Nando De Colo ranks second in free-throw accuracy this season with 95.65%.
De Colo is the EuroLeague career leader in free-throw accuracy at 93.86%.
Nando De Colo ranks third in the league in scoring this season with 14.8 points per game. Cory Higgins is fourth with 14.7.
Higgins ranks third in the league in three-point accuracy this season at 53.6%.
Nikita Kurbanov has made at least 1 three-pointer in five of his last six EuroLeague games.
Nikita Kurbanov needs 1 more steal to reach 100 for his EuroLeague career.
Andrey Vorontsevich has made 11 straight free throws in EuroLeague games.
Kyle Hines ranks fourth in EuroLeague history with 197 blocked shots. Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv big man Alex Tyus is third with 202 and counting.
Hines is third in EuroLeague history with 482 offensive rebounds.
Hines is 11th in competition history with 1,090 rebounds. Mike Batiste is 10th with 1,117.
Sergio Rodriguez ranks fifth on the EuroLeague all-time charts with 1,030 assists for his career; Barcelona point guard Thomas Heurtel is fourth with 1,107 career assists and counting.
Rodriguez is 10th all-time with 347 three-point shots made; Dimitris Diamantidis is ninth with 372.
Daniel Hackett needs 9 assists to reach 500 for his EuroLeague career.
Past matchups
Win/loss record: 1-0
2018-19 – EuroLeague. Regular Season. Gran Canaria – CSKA: 91-106 (+15)
Short dossier
Herbalife Gran Canaria Las Palmas, Spain
Founded: 1963
Colors: yellow, blue
Home court: Gran Canaria Arena (11,500)
President: Enrique Moreno
Head coach: Victor Garcia
Website: cbgrancanaria.net
Trophy case: Spanish Supercup winner (2017)
