Zenit levels the series on home court
Zenit claimed victory over CSKA in Game 2 of the VTB United League finals. Thanks to their home win, Xavi Pascual's team managed to even the series at 1-1. Here's a full breakdown of the key moments from the game.
From the opening seconds at the blue-whites starting lineup included Georgy Zhbanov, Trent Frazier, Dwayne Bacon, Vince Hunter and Andrey Vorontsevich.
Both teams traded baskets under the rim early in the game, and Zenit forward Dwayne Bacon picked up an unsportsmanlike foul on offense right away. Still, it was clear that Zenit was in control. The blue-whites tried multiple times to pull ahead, but CSKA kept the tempo high and repeatedly cut the deficit. The first quarter ended with a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Trent Frazier, giving Zenit a comfortable lead going into the next quarter — 20:16.
The second quarter kicked off with a three-point shooting fest. Zenit's Denis Zakharov and Okaro White (twice) connected from beyond the arc, while CSKA’s Semen Antonov and Casper Ware responded in kind. With each possession, momentum shifted more toward the home team, who eventually extended their lead to 15 points. At that point, Vince Hunter was dominating the paint and cleaning up the boards, Frazier hit another triple, and the whole team was converting free throws efficiently. However, CSKA strung together a few successful possessions late in the quarter and trimmed the gap by halftime — 47:38.
In the second half, CSKA kept up the chase. The visitors fought hard, looking for any opportunity to go on a run and narrow the margin. But Zenit’s defense stood firm. Their tight coverage and versatile offense allowed Pascual’s squad to maintain control. If not for a clutch three-pointer from CSKA forward Amath M’Baye in the final minute of the third quarter, Zenit would have entered the final period with a double-digit lead — 63:56.
In the last ten minutes, Zenit didn't let the win slip away. A 6:0 run, capped by another three-pointer from White, cemented their advantage, and CSKA couldn’t respond in the remaining time. Final score — 86:70.
Zenit’s top performers were Dwayne Bacon (20 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block), Trent Frazier (19 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal) and Okaro White (12 points, 5 rebounds).
The series now moves to Moscow, where Game 3 will take place this Sunday, June 1, with tip-off at 14:30 St. Petersburg time.
