Crvena Zvezda defeated Partizan in the first game of the Serbian Super League final series with a score of 89:88.
Crvena zvezda was without the injured Joel Bolomboy, while Partizan was missing Bruno Caboclo and Balsa Koprivica.
The game started off more slowly than expected, with the first points scored by Kevin Punter nearly two minutes into the game. The match then took a different turn as both teams began scoring more freely, particularly from beyond the arc. Yago dos Santos initiated a 10-0 run that gave Crvena Zvezda a seven-point lead, prompting a timeout from Partizan.
Jaleen Smith and Uros Trifunovic managed to improve Partizan’s offensive rhythm, but they had no answer for the brilliant Brazilian, who scored in double figures for Crvena zvezda. The home team also excelled in three-point shooting, hitting 5 of 8 attempts, which significantly influenced the game’s progression. Overall, the first quarter was highly efficient, reflected in the score – 31-24 in favor of Crvena zvezda.
The start of the second quarter closely mirrored the beginning of the first. After a few sluggish minutes for both teams, Aleksa Avramovic shone, bringing his team to within half a basket (35:34). Crvena Zvezda managed to maintain their lead in the following minutes, but it was never more than a single possession. Smith and Avramovic were determined not to let their opponents pull away significantly.
Yago dos Santos halted Partizan’s surge and regained the lead for his team with a few crucial plays. On the other side, Kevin Punter and Danilo Andjusic hit three-pointers, allowing Partizan to take the lead again. The halftime score was 52-51 in favor of Partizan, with the combined total of over 100 points indicating the high-scoring nature of the game at the Aleksandar Nikolic arena.
Crvena Zvezda started the second half slightly better, but Partizan quickly regained their rhythm and took back the lead. A major setback for the red and whites was the injury to Nemanja Nedovic, who landed awkwardly after a shot fake by Danilo Andjusic and had to leave the court with the help of his teammates.
The X-factor for Crvena zvezda in the closing minutes of the third quarter was Rokas Giedraitis, who scored seven consecutive points to give his team a nine-point lead. However, Zeljko Obradovic’s team managed to close the gap to four points by the end of the quarter, keeping the game wide open.
The fourth period was full of ups and downs. Yago dos Santos suffered a serious injury at the start, but Nemanja Nedovic soon returned to the court. The home team had an eight-point lead, which the visitors quickly erased, heating up the atmosphere significantly.
Zach LeDay missed a crucial layup on one end, while Luka Mitrovic only made one of his free throws on the other end. LeDay was then called for an offensive foul, nullifying his basket. Mitrovic again made just one free throw, leaving Partizan with a final possession to either tie the game or win it.
The photo finish of the game was marked by confusion caused by a mistake at the scorer’s table. Dalibor Ilic fouled LeDay, who made one free throw, but then missed the shot for the win in the next possession.
The top scorer for the home team was Dejan Davidovac with 23 points, while Aleksa Avramovic stood out on the other side with 20.
The next game is scheduled in two days, with Partizan taking on the role of the home team.