Russian VTB League CSKA Moscow vs Zenit Petersburg Game 3 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time:  05-28-2018, 12:30 EDT

Spread: Zenit Petersburg +7

Total: +167.5

In game 3 of this Russian VTB United League semifinal, the top-seeded and defending champions CSKA Moscow (22-4), who won both home games and now have a commanding 2-0 lead in the series, are visiting the fifth-seeded Zenit Petersburg (15-11), who are with their backs against the wall and need to bounce back in order to avoid getting swept in the series.

Zenit Petersburg finished the regular season with a 14-12 record were placed fifth in the league table. They have back-to-back losses and in their last game they lost on the road against CSKA Moscow in Game 2 with an 81-83 score. They are led in scoring by Jalen Reynolds with 16.6 ppg, adding a team high 7.9 rebounds per game. He is followed by Brandon Jennings with 10.2 ppg and a team high 6.4 assists per game, while Sergey Karasev adds 10 ppg.

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CSKA Moscow finished the regular season with a 22-4 and were placed first in the league. They have won 10 of their last 11 matches and in their last game they won at home against Zenit in Game 2 with an 83-81 score. They are led in scoring by Nando De Colo with 16.1 ppg, adding 3.3 assists per game. He is followed by Mikhail Kulagin with 12.2 ppg and 3.2 assists per game, while Sergio Rodriguez adds 11.4 ppg and a team high 4.5 assists per game.

In their four previous meetings so far this season CSKA Moscow leads Zenit 3-1 but have lost the only road game by 7 points. Zenit have a 12-3 home record, while CSKA Moscow are 11-3 on the road. CSKA Moscow are better both offensively, scoring a league-best of 92.5 ppg to Zenit’s 88.5 and defensively, allowing 75.7 ppg to Zenit’s 83.8. They also have a better field goal percentage (51.6% to 48.8%), while Zenit have a better 3-point percentage (40.4% to 39.2%). Both teams grab exactly 31.6 rebounds per game, while Zenit commit fewer turnovers (12.3 to 12.9) and dish more assists per game (21 to 18.8). Bookmakers give CSKA Moscow a -7 spread but don’t expect them to beat the odds as Zenit are giving them a hard time and have already won once at home this season.

CSKA Moscow vs Zenit Petersburg Game 3 Prediction: Zenit Petersburg +7 (-116)