Pre-game breakdown
Bayern started the double-week with the win – as well as CSKA. It is interesting that the German team plays two EuroLeague finalists in a row, Anadolu Efes was their latest victim.
The Munich side is one of the hottest teams in the league as they won 3 in a row and 7 out of 9. They are second in the standings, just ahead of CSKA. One of the series will be broken tomorrow.
The Red-Blues rested in Kaunas after beating Zalgiris, went to Munich today in the afternoon and had a practice at the Audi Dome in the night.
Away roster remains the same: Johannes Voigtmann and Alexander Khomenko recover from illness in Moscow, as well as injured Janis Strelnieks.
Pre-game quotes
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
We play against one of two leading teams in the standings. Wherever they got so far, they deserve it because of the way they play, compete, approach the game. They are a real team, they fight on boards, they have different strategic approaches to defense and offense. We need to be careful for all 40 minutes because they compete on the highest level, we have serious battle in front oà us.
Ivan Ukhov, CSKA guard:
There are many good points guard that are able to score themselves or assist the teammate. Besides, the team has a collection of bigs who are helping a lot to rebound. We can’t allow that, especially on mismatches.
“Relativity” connections
Daniel Hackett was a teammate of Bayern’s Leon Radosevic at Brose Bamberg during the 2017-18 season.
Bayern guard Wade Baldwin IV and CSKA center Nikola Milutinov were teammates last season at Olympiacos Piraeus.
Bayern guard Vladimir Lucic and Nikola Milutinov were teammates on Partizan Belgrade during the 2012-13 season.
Bayern head coach Andrea Trinchieri coached two CSKA players in the past: Nikita Kurbanov with UNICS in the 2013-14 season and Daniel Hackett in Bamberg in 2017-18.
Important numbers
Ten different players have appeared in CSKA’s starting lineups so far this season. Only Nikita Kurbanov has started in every game.
Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in 28 of his last 27 games.
James has scored in double figures in 33 of his last 34 games. He ranks second in scoring this season with 17.8 points per game.
James ranks sixth this season with 5.3 assists per game.
Will Clyburn ranks third in scoring this season with 16.8 points per game.
Clyburn has scored in double figures in 8 straight games.
Clyburn has made a three-pointer in 7 of his last 8 games.
Tornike Shengelia and Nikola Milutinov share seventh place in offensive rebounds with 2.3 per game.
Nikola Milutinov is ranked 11th all-time with 390 offensive rebounds. James Gist is 10th with 393.
Janis Strelnieks ranks sixth all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.9%.
Past matchups
Wins/losses: 6-0
2013-14. Euroleague. Top 16. CSKA – Bayern: 61-86 (+25)
2013-14. Euroleague. Top 16. Bayern – CSKA: 77-70 (+7)
2018-19. Euroleague. Regular Season. Bayern – CSKA: 79-93 (+16)
2018-19. Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Bayern: 77-70 (+7)
2019-20. Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Bayern: 79-68 (+11)
2019-20. Euroleague. Regular Season. Bayern – CSKA: 77-84 (+7)
Short dossier
Bayern Munich, Germany
Founded: 1946
Colors: red, white
Home court: Audi Dome (6,700)
President: Uli Hoeness
Head coach: Andrea Trinchieri
Website: www.fcb-basketball.de
Trophy case: 5-time German champion (1954, 1955, 2014, 2018, 2019), 2-time German Cup winner (1968, 2018)
