Khimki got off to a perfect start in the ULEB Cup, collecting a 90-81 victory at home against SLUC Nancy in Group D. Former ULEB Cup Final MVP Kelly McCarty came up with the important baskets for the Russian side, scoring 28 points including 11 in a critical 18-3 run in the third quarter. Anton Ponkrashov tallied 16 points, five rebounds and six assists off the bench while Daniel Ewing and Vladimir Veremeenko each scored 14 points for the winners. Khimki are coming into the competition with high hopes after reaching the eighthfinals in their debut last season. The French side Nancy, who also advanced to the eighthfinals in their ULEB Cup debut last year, gave Khimki all they could handle. Cyril Julian was Nancy's main weapon with 22 points and Zabian Dowdell had 18 off the bench and Ricardo Greer chipped in 15 points.

Mike Wilkinson started the scoring and Khimki led 9-8 early. But Ricardo Greer scored eight straight points in a 3-15 spurt as Nancy pulled away 12-23. The Russians answered with an 11-2 surge to cut the deficit to 23-25 after one period. Kestutis Kemzura's team scored the first five points of the second quarter as the game grew in defensive intensity. Neither team was able to take control of the contest in the second period, and a late basket by Dowdell gave Nancy a 41-43 advantage at the break. Greer's three-point play made it a 46-50 game. That's when McCarty stepped up, scoring 11 points, including two long bombs, in an 18-3 run which gave Khimki a 64-53 advantage. The lead was 68-58 going into the fourth. The French tried to close in the fourth quarter, but the combination of McCarty and Ponkrashov was too much.