UNICS vs Zenit. Preview
Context
Kazan heads into this game as the team with the longest active winning streak in the VTB United League. Velimir Perasovic's team has racked up six consecutive victories, with their last loss occurring on December 1 in a home game against Lokomotiv Kuban (75:87).
Since the December battle at the CSC Arena, UNICS has played one more game than Zenit. First, they crushed MBA-MAI on the road (71:117), and in their last game of the year, UNICS defeated PARMA at home (103:92). Both games featured standout performances from Jalen Reynolds (20 points in each game) and Marcos Knight (19 and 28 points, respectively), who now ranks in the league's Top 4 scorers of the regular season with an average of 16.4 points per game.
Another key player for Kazan, Ismael Bako, leads the league in blocked shots, averaging 1.4 per game. St. Petersburg center Alex Poythress is close behind, with an average of 1 block per game this season.
Head-to-head
This will be the third official game between the teams this season and the 44th in the history of their rivalry in the VTB United League. Currently, the advantage lies with the hosts — 23 victories compared to the blue-whites 20.
Quotes
Zenit head coach Xavi Pascual shared his thoughts on his team’s first game of the new year:
After our loss at home, we want to win in Kazan, because also it's one game that we want to keep our first position in the standings, and also because it's one of the most important opponents in the competition. We want to make a good game, because of course if we don't play excellent defensively and offensively we can't win.
Who. Where. When.
Opponent: UNICS
Location: Basket Hall, Kazan
Date: January 5, 15:00 St. Petersburg time
Broadcast: Match TV, VTB United League website, Okko Sport
