By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
CSKA Moscow beat Fenerbahce Beko 78 – 67 in Game 2 of the EuroLeague playoffs to take a 2-0 lead and get a win away from advancing to the Final Four. No team has ever lost a EuroLeague quarterfinal series when up 2-0.
Daniel Hackett had 14 points plus nine assists while Tornike Shengelia added 11 points plus seven rebounds and Nikita Kurbanov added 10 points and six boards. The latter also drained a 3-pointer for the 75 – 65 with 1:51 left, capping a decisive 13 – 6 run for CSKA in the final minutes.
“We didn’t break down when they came back in the game,” Hackett said. “We stayed together and we got a good win. It’s 2-0 and now we’ve got to play the third game. I don’t care about [my performance]; I care about the team.”
Hackett then stole the ball from playoffs debutant DyShawn Pierre, as time was running out to his team’s favor.
Marko Guduric dropped 27 points, shattering his EuroLeague career-high but he was the only Fener player in double figures. The Turkish side welcomed back Pierre in its ranks but was still lacking multiple players due to injuries (Jan Vesely) and COVID-19 and was empty of additional offensive solutions, something that showed down the stretch.
Thanks to Guduric, Fener went up 33 – 35 in the second period before a CSKA outburst gave the hosts a 50 – 42 advantage. The hosts never lost their lead as their opponents trailed for the rest of the match, managed just to approach 52 – 51 in the third quarter.
“Obviously, it’s good to have a 2-0 lead,” CSKA coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “Regarding the game, there was tremendous [desire] from both sides to defend the paint, a lot of switches, and the pace went down a little bit. It was more hard decisions and reading the game by great players. I will always and ever be their biggest fan. I like the way they approach the game; I like their heart; I like their determination. I am their coach, but I am their biggest fan. I say it loud here; they deserve all the congratulations.”
Keeping the faith
Fenerbahce will be trying to do what has never been done before in the EuroLeague playoffs: Coming back from a 0-2 deficit. Despite the team’s numerous COVID-19 problems and the fact that Vesely is still doubtful, coach Can Erdem believes that nothing is over.
“I would like to thank our players and also to CSKA’s team for the great fight on the court,” Erdem said. “We knew that it was going to be a tough game, tougher than the previous one. Mentally, first off, we were not ready against that toughness. We couldn’t handle them in the right way, so defensively that shook us up. But in the second half, we were more focused on our defensive game plan, so defensively it was a good result. But offensively, things turned in a different way and we couldn’t make correct decisions. This is just 2-0 in the best-of-five series, so a long way to go; we believe that. Thanks to both teams and congratulations to CSKA.”
Photo: EuroLeague Basketball