Russian VTB League Zenit vs CSKA Moscow Game 2 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time:  05-25-2018, 11:00 EDT

Spread: CSKA Moscow -12.5

Total: +170.5

In game 2 of this Russian VTB United League semifinal, the first in the league and defending champions CSKA Moscow (22-4), after winning easily game 1 by 16 points and taking the 1-0 lead in the series, are hosting once again the 5^th Zenit Petersburg (15-11), who are looking to bounce back today and even the series.

CSKA Moscow finished the regular season with a 22-4 and were placed on top of the league. They have won nine of their last ten matches and in their last game they won at home against Zenit in Game 1 with a 98-82 score. They are led in scoring by Nando De Colo with 16.4 ppg, adding 3.2 assists per game. He is followed by Mikhail Kulagin with 12.2 ppg and 3.2 assists per game, while Sergio Rodriguez adds 11.7 ppg and a team-best 4.4 assists per game.

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Zenit Petersburg finished the regular season with a 14-12 record were placed 5^th in the league table. In their last game they saw a two-game winning streak getting snapped by losing on the road against CSKA Moscow in Game 1 with an 82-98 score. They are led in scoring by Jalen Reynolds with 16.7 ppg, adding a team-best 8 rebounds per game. He is followed by Philip Scrubb with 10.5 ppg and 4 assists per game, while Brandon Jennings adds 10.2 ppg and a team-best 6.4 assists per game.

In their three previous meetings so far this season CSKA Moscow leads Zenit 2-1 wins with each team having won at home. CSKA Moscow have a 13-1 home record, while Zenit are 5-9 on the road. CSKA Moscow are better both offensively, scoring 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 (51.7% to 48.8%), while both teams have almost identical accuracy from behind the arc (40.2% to 40.1%) and are almost equal in rebounding (31.9 to 31.8). Zenit commit fewer turnovers (12.2 to 13.1) and dish more assists per game (21.2 to 18.8). Bookmakers give CSKA Moscow a -12.5 spread and expect them to beat the odds for another easy home win.

Zenit Petersburg vs CSKA Moscow Game 2 Prediction: CSKA Moscow -12.5 (-112)