UNICS — CSKA, 15 November 2025

Forced restructuring

After the Moscow game, in which CSKA effectively took the lead in the standings from UNICS (at that point, however, Kazan had one win more), Velimir Perasovic's team began losing player after player. The most painful was the injury to Paris Lee, the team's main playmaker (13.9 points, 7.5 assists), who was sidelined for an extended period. Shooters Dyshawn Pierre and C.J. Bryce also missed the previous two games.

And yet, the key role for the team from Tatarstan lies in their pair of big men. Despite consistently limited playing time (19.7 minutes), Jalen Reynolds remains UNICS's leading scorer (17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds), followed by newcomer Marcus Bingham (17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks). The team also signed VTB League legend and former Red-Blue guard Alexey Shved for a two-month deal. He made his debut against Samara on 11/11, posting impressive numbers – 11 points and 11 assists.

Everyone's back in place

The red-blues, on the other hand, brought back all their injured players in preparation for the road trip. Antonius Cleveland (ankle) and Livio Jean-Charles (thigh), who had missed the previous two games, gradually returned to practice. During the week, the team trained in Krylatskoye on a 2-1-2 schedule and, after Friday's practice, flew to Kazan on an Aeroflot flight.

"Our games against UNICS are always a big event in the VTB League," notes CSKA head coach Andreas Pistiolis. "It's tough to play against Kazan team, especially on the road. A game like this is a serious test against a high-level opponent."

Past matchups

Wins-losses: 97-28

CSKA biggest margin of victory: 102-54 (+48) (1997-98 Russian Championship. Quarterfinal)
UNICS biggest margin of victory: 113-77 (-36) (2000-01 Russian Superleague. Regular season. 2nd stage)

Game of 2025-26 VTB League Season:

25-Oct-2025. CSKA – UNICS: 86-75 (+9)

Brief dossier

UNICS Kazan

Founded: 1991
Color: green, black, white
Home court: Basket Hall (7,500)
President: Evgeny Bogachev
Head coach: Velimir Perasovic
Website: www.unics.ru
Trophy case:
- EuroCup winner (2011);
- FIBA Europe League winner (2004);
- VTB League and Russian champion (2023);
- 9-time Russian League runner-up (2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2024),
- 8-time Russian League bronze winner (2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2022, 2025),
- NEBL champion (2003),
- 3-time Russian Cup winner (2003, 2009, 2014),
- 3-Russian Cup runner-up (2005, 2007, 2010),
- 5-time VTB United League runner-up (2010, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2024)
- 3- time VTB United League bronze winner (2014, 2022, 2025)