Pre-game breakdown
Maccabi has won their last two head-to-head games, including a 90-80 victory in December last season. The last time these teams played in Moscow was in January 2019 when Maccabi stormed to a 76-93 road win, thus ending a streak of nine consecutive road losses in Moscow which dated back to 2004.
The red-and-blues will have the same roster as they used against Lokomotiv, with 11 active players. Semen Antonov, Nikola Milutinov and Janis Strelnieks continue to recover from the COVID-19.
Pre-game quotes
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
Expectations are always high. We are still in the process of becoming a real team. We have several obstacles because we are not all together; three players are sidelined by the COVID. That doesn’t help, but we are not going to use it for any excuses because it is important who is here, who is healthy. We know that Maccabi is a team that always fights until the end, they have a big lineup, a new roster and a very good philosophy. They are well-coached and they are always playing at a top level. I would be happy if our team comes and gives fights. We need to establish a mindset that nothing is given, especially in the process of becoming a real team. You need to go there and fight for every ball.
Darrun Hilliard, CSKA guard:
Maccabi is a great team. They have great coaching staff first of all, great, experienced players. It is going to be a fun game. Hopefully we will have a good amount of fans here to cheer us on, because it is good to be back here at Megasport for EuroLeague game and hopefully to come out with the win.
“Relativity” connections
Maccabi center Othello Hunter played at CSKA Moscow for two seasons between 2017 and 2019. He helped the team win the 2019 EuroLeague title.
Will Clyburn and Maccabi’s Scottie Wilbekin and Ante Zizic were teammates at Darussafaka Istanbul during the 2016-17 season. They helped the team reach the EuroLeague Playoffs.
Nikola Milutinov played under current Maccabi head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos during his tenure with Olympiacos, for three seasons from 2015 to 2018. They reached the 2017 championship game together.
Janis Strelnieks played under Coach Sfairopoulos during the 2017-18 season at Olympiacos Piraeus.
Important numbers
Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in 22 straight games.
James has scored in double figures in each of his last 27 games.
Darrun Hilliard has made at least 1 three-point shot in six straight and 11 of his last 12 games.
Hilliard has scored in double figures in five of his last six games.
Tornike Shengelia has scored in double figures and had double-digit PIRs in 12 of his last 13 games.
Shengelia has recorded at least 1 steal in four of his last five games.
Janis Strelnieks ranks sixth all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.9%.
Nikola Milutinov ranks 12th all-time with 376 offensive rebounds. Mirsad Turkcan is 11th with 385.
Past matchups
Taking into account three technical defeats suffered in 70s due to political situation, CSKA prevailed in 25 games out of 45.
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)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 76-93 (-17)
2019-20 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 90-80 (-10)
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, 18-20), Israeli Cup winner (1956, 58, 59, 61, 63-66, 70-73, 75, 77-83, 85-87, 89-91, 94, 98-2006, 10-17)
