CSKA Moscow comfortably saw-off Panathinaikos 100-80 in Russia to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their Euroleague quarter-final Playoff series.
The Muscovites head to Athens knowing that one win will be enough to book their place in the Final Four for the twelfth time in thirteen seasons.
Sonny Weems led the winners with 20 points with Andrei Kirilenko and Nando De Colo scoring 16 each. Milos Teodosic recorded a team-high eight assists as CSKA set a Playoffs record with 28.
“Defence was the key to this game,” Weems explained. “We played great team defence and we didn’t let them get in a lot rhythm. It was just a great team defence all around.
“Game three will be a really tough one. Their crowd is really going to be into it and they are going to be motivated to play. We have to match their intensity level and come out to play.”
Vasilis Charalampopoulos led Panathinaikos with 14 points.
Fenerbahce dominated from the opening quarter, en route to an 82-67 win over reigning Euroleague champions Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv as the Turkish side take a 2-0 lead, going over to Israel.
Andrew Goudelock led Fenerbahce with 19 points as his side took a 30-14 lead after the first period and never looked back.
“It is good to be 2-0 before we go to Tel Aviv, but I have experience and know how difficult it is to play over there and how proud Maccabi is,” Fenerbahce coach Zeljko Obradovic said.
“We have to be ready to play there. So we have time until Monday to prepare ourselves and to try to play better than in the first two games. The goal is simple: we need one more victory.”
Jeremy Pargo led the visitors with 16 points.
