CSKA - ASVEL: 85-65
French team started the game very impressive. It took guests just 2 minutes to score 10 points and to put themselves ahead of Moscovites – 10-3. Of course, CSKA head coach Dusan Ivkovic immediately called time-out. After that CSKA seemed to find its rhythm. J.R.Holden distributed game with quick and smart passes, Victor Alexander made his way on the paint against Robert Gulyas. But the most impressive offensive performance came from guard Nikos Hatzivrettas. He helped CSKA first to even the score (11-10) and then, in the second quarter his points helped CSKA to get from ‘+12’ score mark to far more impressive ‘+20’ in just two minutes.
ASVEL could not play any organized offence in the second quarter. The players seemed to be helpless against CSKA defense.
In fact the second part of the game was almost useless. ASVEL did not have a single possibility to come back. In the 4th quarter CSKA head coach Dusan Ivkovic allowed to enter the game Nikolay Padius and Andrey Sheiko. Both guys are rarely seen on the court in the Euroleague games. Also guard Zakhar Pashutin got a chance to play against the team he played for in 99/2000 season.
The only upsetting thing happened to CSKA was the injury of the center Aleksandr Bashminov. In the morning the player has to pass the medical tests to determine if the injury is serious.
CSKA has to win just one out of three games left in the Euroleague in order to finish at the first position in the group.
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