CSKA Moscow opened up the defense of their EuroLeague title in dominant fashion, thrashing the Turks of Galatasaray in their season opener.
ADVERTISEMENTCSKA Moscow opened up the defense of their EuroLeague title in dominant fashion, thrashing the Turks of Galatasaray in their season opener.
France international Nando De Colo paced the Russians with 22 points and led five CSKA players in double figures.
Serbian Milos Teodosic chipped in with a solid 20 points while American point guard Aaron Jackson followed with 16 points as CSKA won through 109-84.
In victory the reigning EuroLeague champs set a club record for most points in a EuroLeague game.
It was a much tighter affair at the Mediolanum Forum as hosts Milan fended off a late and spirited comeback by 2014 champions Maccabi Tel Aviv to secure an opening win.
Milan led 93-83 with less than two minutes remaining, but an outstanding Andrew Goudelock brought Maccabi back in the game and free throws by Devin Smith got the guests to within one point with eight seconds left.
After Ricky Hickman put Milan two points in front with a split free throw Guy Pnini launched a court length pass to Sylven Landesberg, but the New York native had his layup superbly blocked by Jamel McLean at the buzzer leaving Milan with 99-97 victory.