Euroleague Basketball
Photo: Euroleague Basketball

CSKA Moscow edged Crvena Zvezda 77-76 in game two of the Euroleague quarter-final Playoffs in a highly intense battle in the Russian capital.

But, CSKA endured a nervous last 30 seconds in order to take a 2-0 lead in the series as both sides now head to Belgrade for game three.

After a turnover, Red Star had the chance to take the final shot of the game and a chance to get the win. Unfortunately, Stefan Jovic was called for a travel with 2.9 seconds left leaving CSKA and its fans relived.

Kyle Hines led CSKA with 19 points.

“I am proud of my team,” said CSKA Moscow coach Dimitris Itoudis.

“We have a team. This is playoffs. People that are playing certain amount minutes in back-to-back games; they will not always have their best performance, but you need more people to step up and be in the equation.”

FENERBAHCE USES EARLY RUN TO TOP REAL MADRID

Fenerbahce led by 13 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back as they comfortably took a 2-0 lead over the reigning Euroleague champions Real Madrid.

Ekpe Udoh led five Fenerbahce scorers in double figures with 18 points as the beat Real 100-78 as the series now heads to the Spanish capital.

“After we won the first game two nights ago we really tried to make an analysis and understand what would be necessary for tonight’s game,” Fenerbahce coach Zeljko Obradovic said. “I am really very satisfied how we played tonight.

“Our defensive game gave us the energy and confidence to play really good offence. They tried to play man to man in a different way, and in one moment also tried to play zone press. But we led after first half 25 points, that is not normal against a team that is Euroleague title contender. But we were concentrated, focused almost until the last minutes.”