The Take
The only undefeated team since the start of the season, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar (2-0) will look to stay that way when it hosts Cedevita Zagreb (0-2). This will also be the first time ever that these two sides meet in EuroCup action. The hosts are having a perfect season so far and only have the big prize in mind, while Cedevita is still winless in the Top 16 and will need to keep adding wins fast if it wants to have a chance to advance.
Ryan Broekhoff (13.0 ppg., 5.6 rpg.) has become the main contributor for Loko with help of Joe Ragland (12.8 ppg.) and Chris Babb (10.1 ppg.).
For Cedevita, Will Cherry (12.8 ppg.) leads the pack alongside forwards Demetris Nichols (12.5 ppg.) and Dzanan Musa (11.9 ppg.). The hosts boast the best defense in the league (70.4 ppg.) and also have the second-best mark in assists this season (20.3 apg.).
Cedevita has slightly better numbers from beyond the arc (41.6%), but the Croatian champion has lost four of its last five games in the EuroCup and must recover against the hottest team this season.
The trip to Krasnodar doesn’t help either, but the visitors will have to play for their lives in Russia, while Loko thinks about clinching a quarterfinals ticket as soon as possible.
Quotes
The game takes place on December 16th at 8:00 p.m. in Krasnodar.