CSKA Moscow survives staunch Crvena Zvezda challenge to take 2-0 series lead

CSKA Moscow pulled out a hard-fought and thrilling 77-76 win over visiting Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade in the Russian capital on Thursday to take a 2-0 series lead and close within one win from qualifying for its 13th Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in 14 years. The win also extended the club’s playoff home winning streak to 16 games. The series now moves to Belgrade’s Kombank Arena for Game 3 on Monday – and, if necessary, Game 4 on Wednesday. With Stefan Jovic orchestrating the offense, and Marko Simonovic hitting three triples in the second quarter, Zvezda led by as many as a 7 points and went up 44-48 at the break. Kyle Hines and Aaron Jackson fueled CSKA’s rally that helped the hosts surge ahead by 69-62 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but the visitors answered with a 1-8 run that tied the game. Zvezda took another lead in the penultimate minute, but a Milos Teodosic triple with 65 seconds to go proved to be the game-winner. Hines had 19 points in victory, while Cory Higgins and Nando De Colo scored 13 points apiece for CSKA. Jovic finished with 15 points and all of his 7 assists came in the first half. Tarence Kinsey and Marko Simonovic netted 14 apiece, and Quincy Miller added 11 in defeat.