CSKA vs. Zalgiris Kaunas: 85-82 (+3)
CSKA: Strelnieks (18 + 4 as), Voigtmann (3 rb + 2 st), Hackett (11 + 3 rb + 6 as + 3 st + 3 to + 4 pf), Kurbanov (3), Hines (6 + 5 rb + 3 bs) – start; Bolomboy (12 + 6 rb), James (19 + 3 rb + 2 as), Antonov (0), Vorontsevich (2), Koufos (DNP), Hilliard (1), Baker (13 + 3 rb)…
Zalgiris: Walkup (19 + 7 rb + 6 as + 7 to), Rivers (2), LeDay (11 + 9 rb), Landale (12 + 11 rb), Ulanovas (2) – start; Lekavicius (15 + 3 as), Hayes (5 + 3 rb), Jankunas (0), Lukosiunas (DNP), Milaknis (8), Geben (8 + 4 rb), Jokubaitis (DNP)…
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
I would like to congratulate my team. This is actually the first that goes to the clutch moment, to the overtime, that we win this season, and I am happy for that. Definitely, if we talk shortly about the game, we would say we changed our mindset halfway. We did it late in the first quarter, when we realized that today’s game had to be more physical, although we prepared the game to be like that, to the level of fouls. So we changed our mindset, and I think we took the lead in the first half of a tied game with a buzzer shot by Baker. I think that overall, we had the same picture in the third and fourth quarters, although we had a big margin for such a close game, a lead of 6 points or so, but two quick three-pointers by Walkup, in isolation, great shots, brought them back. Then we went to overtime and I think we had our opportunity and I think that there, we made some good decisions. Mike (James) went to the drive, before that, in isolation, Kyle (Hines) had that layup or a dunk. Overall, I think that the game could have gone either way. I also have to congratulate Zalgiris. They played a good game. They always fight, have character and play physical basketball. That’s it – another EuroLeague kind-of-final game. When we have only played a third of the regular season, all games and tough games. Thanks a lot to the fans for supporting the team. They believed and kept believing although we had some difficulties in the game.
