Khimky overcame CSKA to open the semifinal series with victory. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But CSKA Moscow won third quarter 28-22. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Khimky made 23-of-30 free shots (76.7 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. 25 personal fouls committed by CSKA Moscow helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Croatian-Bosnian guard Zoran Planinic (198-82, agency: XL Basketball Agency) fired 25 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Sergey Monya (202-83) chipped in 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks. Serbian center Nenad Krstic (212-83) produced 16 points and 7 rebounds and Serbian Zoran Erceg (210-85) added 14 points respectively for lost side. CSKA Moscow's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help.
Top scorers:
Khimky: Z.Planinic 25+5reb+6ast, S.Monya 13+5reb+2ast, P.Davis 12+4reb+4ast, V.Fridzon 8+3reb+4ast, J.Augustine 7+6reb, K.Loncar 6+3reb+1ast
CSKA: N.Krstic 16+7reb+2ast, Z.Erceg 14+2reb+2ast, E.Voronov 9+1ast, A.Jackson 9+1reb+2ast, M.Teodosic 8+5reb+4ast, S.Kaun 7+2reb

Zalgiris — Lokomotiv 80-53

Zalgiris thumped visiting Lokomotiv to claim a comfortable opening win in the series. The game without a history. Zalgiris led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They shot the lights out from three nailing 13 long-distance shots on high 54.2 percentage. Worth to mention a great performance of center Ksistof Lavrinovic (210-79) who helped to win the game recording 19 points and 6 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas (205-89) contributed with 15 points for the winners. Lithuanian point guard Mantas Kalnietis (195-86, agency: Interperformances) answered with 12 points and American-Greek point guard Nick Calathes (198-89, college: Florida) added 6 points and 4 assists in the effort for Lokomotiv. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games.
Top scorers:
Zalgiris: K.Lavrinovic 19+6reb+2ast, M.Kuzminskas 15+2reb+2ast, D.Lavrinovic 8+2reb+1ast, O.Lafayette 7+1reb+5ast, A.Juskevicius 6+1reb+1ast, R.Kaukenas 5+5reb
Lokomotiv: M.Kalnietis 12+1reb+3ast, R.Hendrix 10+1reb, D.Brown 6+1reb+2ast, N.Calathes 6+2reb+4ast, A.Zubkov 5+5reb, M.Grigoryev 4+1reb