These teams could not have been more even than a 40-minute tie before Khimki won their first game 74-77 on a buzzer-beating three-pointer. Now, Khimki can afford a two-point loss in the re-match and still reach the second round of qualifying. Caserta, on the other hand, must win by four points to advance on aggregate score over two games. It was appropriate that Keith Langford's triple decided the first game. Despite new rules extending the three-point arc from 6.25 to 6.75 meters, shooting from downtown proved the difference for Khimki, which made 9 of 21 attempts from that distance as compared to 5 of 20 for Caserta. If Game 2 had a similar difference in triples made, it could decide the series. Caserta will look for a boost in outside shooting from Ebi Ere and Jumaine Jones, who went a combined 2 for 11 in the first game but average much better accuracy between them normally. The only Caserta player to hit more than one triple in the first game was Lukasz Koszarek, who finished with 16 points, but will again be without running mate Fabio Di Bella in the backcourt. Meanwhile, Khimki will try to get to the foul line more at home, since Caserta scored 9 more points there in Game 1. The rest will come down to will. Caserta's advantage is playing without pressure and with much the same roster as last season, while Khimki returns only four players, but is expected by its fans to make a serious run for the Euroleague. If that pressure comes to bear and Caserta's togetherness remains on Friday, don't be surprised if a last shot settles the whole series, too.

REFEREES: Carl Jungebrand, Elias Koromilas, Sergey Chebyshev