CSKA into final

ByReuters

Published 28/04/2006 at 21:22 GMT

CSKA Moscow reached the European Championship final on Friday as J.R. Holden knocked down 19 points, including several key second-half three pointers, to spur an 84-75 win over Barcelona. The Russians will meet Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final on Sunday.

BASKETBALL Smodis CSKA Moscow

Image credit: Reuters

CSKA took more than five minutes to score and were lucky to be down only four points at the half after being outplayed but Barca failed to hold their nerve in the second half.

Holden's long three-pointer with two minutes left in the third quarter gave CSKA, playing in their record fourth consecutive Final Four, the lead for the first time.

Barcelona, led by Shammond Williams' 24 points, fought back to 63-63 but a pair of turnovers allowed CSKA to regain the upper hand despite shooting only 42 percent from the field.

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