By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Not only CSKA Moscow reached the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four for the 17th time in 18 seasons with a brilliant road win against KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, but one of its main players earned Playoffs Game 4 MVP honors, as EuroLeague announced.
Nando De Colo led CSKA to am 83-92 road win at Fernando Buesa Arena with a PIR of 35. De Colo had 27 points on 8-of-11 two-point shots, 3-of-5 three-pointers and 2-of-2 free throws. He added 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals (matching his career-high) and 6 fouls drawn to reach MVP of the Round honors for the 15th time in his career – an all-time record.
Brandon Davies of Zalgiris also amassed a PIR of 35, but on a losing effort against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Davies had 25 points on 9-of-12 two-point shooting and 7-of-9 free throws, adding 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 8 fouls drawn.
Ali Muhammed of Fenerbahce had a PIR of 32 against Zalgiris. That is a new career high and 11 more than his best PIR in 125 previous EuroLeague games. Muhammed had 25 points, one away from his career-best mark, and became the third player to hit at least 5 three-pointers with no misses in a playoffs game – Saulius Stombergas of Tau Ceramica hit 9-of-9 in Game 2 of the 2001 Semifinals against AEK Athens, and Omar Cook of Power Electronics Valencia hit 5-of-5 against Real Madrid in Game 2 of the 2011 Playoffs. Muhammed also hit 4-of-5 two-point shots and 2-of-2 free throws, adding a rebound, 4 assists, a season-high 3 steals and 3 foul drawns.
Vincent Poirier of Baskonia (31 PIR) and Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul (29) complete the top individual performances in playoffs Game 4.