Russian VTB League Finals CSKA Moscow vs Khimki Game 3 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time:  06-10-2018, 12:30 EDT

Spread: Khimki M. +9

Total: +173

In game 3 of the Russian VTB United League finals, the third-seeded Khimki Moscow Region (20-6), who are with their backs against the wall and need to bounce back today, are hosting the top-seeded and defending champions CSKA Moscow (22-4), who won both games at home and now have a commanding 2-0 lead in the series and need only one win in the next three games in order to be crowned champions.  

Khimki finished the regular season with a 20-6 record and were placed third in the league. They have back-to-back losses and in their last game they lost on the road against CSKA Moscow in game 2 with a 92-103 score. They are led in scoring by Alexey Shved with 23.9 ppg, adding a team high 6.8 assists per game. He is followed by Janis Timma with 16.1 ppg, while Jordan Mickey adds 15.1 ppg and a team high 6.3 rebounds per game.

Top Basketball Bookmakers

CSKA Moscow finished the regular season with a 22-4 and were placed first in the league. They have won 13 of their last 14 matches and in their last game they won at home against Khimki in Game 2 with a 103-92 score. They are led in scoring by Nando De Colo with 15.9 ppg, adding 3.5 assists per game. He is followed by Mikhail Kulagin with 12.2 ppg and 3.2 assists per game, while Sergio Rodriguez adds 11.9 ppg and a team high 4.7 assists per game.

In their six previous meetings so far this season CSKA Moscow leads Khimki 5-1 wins and are 1-1 on the road. Khimki are 14-3 at home, while CSKA Moscow are 12-3 on the road. CSKA Moscow are better offensively, scoring 92.5 ppg to Khimki’s 85.8 ppg, while both teams are almost equal defensively, allowing 75.7 and 75.9 ppg. CSKA Moscow have a better accuracy both from the field (51.9% to 47.8%) and from behind the arc (39.6% to 37.3%). They also commit fewer turnovers per game (13 to 13.3), while Khimki are better in assists per game (21 to 19.1) and both teams are almost equal in rebounding (31.4 to 31.3). Bookmakers give CSKA Moscow a -9 spread but don’t expect them to beat the odds as the hosts will surely force a closer game than that and order to avoid being swept.

CSKA Moscow vs Khimki M. Game 3 Prediction: Khimki M. +9 (-112)