Drama in Belgrade: Hapoel beat Zvezda 81–80 with Micić’s three-pointers

Crvena Zvezda suffered their second consecutive defeat in the EuroLeague, losing 81–80 in Belgrade to Hapoel Tel Aviv in the second round, as the newspaper Danas reports. The visitors from Tel Aviv led practically the whole game, while Vasilije Micić was decisive at the end. (Photo: Vasilije Micić, Wikimedia Commons / Sakhalinio – CC BY-SA 4.0)

Hapoel started the game well at 4:0 and increased the lead to 26:15 in the 9th minute, closing the first period at 28:18. Zvezda came back into the game in the second period and took the lead for the first time at 35:34 after a three-pointer by Tyson Carter, but the visitors responded with an 11:0 run and went into the break at 45:35.

With stronger defence and a good role by Stefan Miljenović, Zvezda closed in again in the third period, but started the last ten minutes trailing 67:59. The crowd rose to its feet when the red-and-whites came within five points, but Micić’s three-pointers at the decisive moments took Hapoel to plus ten and practically sealed the victory.

Jared Butler rekindled hope with his three-pointer 35 seconds from the end, and after two free throws by Semi Ojeleye the score became 77:80. Tomas Satoransky was stopped with a foul, but then Butler, at the sound of the buzzer, closed the game at 81:80.

The disappointment was great at the Belgrade Arena: after the defeat to Žalgiris in the first round, Zvezda remain without a win in the new EuroLeague season.