Crvena Zvezda defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv in the game of the season by 98:92, in the context of the EuroLeague and the 16th round. Milos Teodosic played brilliantly and was the main contributor to the triumph.
Jordi DiBartolomeo did not play for Maccabi Tel Aviv, while Dalibor Ilic was unavailable for the guests.
The game started at a relatively fast pace in the opening minutes but with many misses. Although the “Pride of Israel” had a slightly better start, Crvena Zvezda, led by Milos Teodosic, took control, and then in the second quarter, they built a double-digit lead. Mike Tobey played exceptionally well, guiding Belgrade to a plus 11. Maccabi Tel Aviv somewhat recovered, and Adam Hanga concluded the first half with a three-pointer, leaving the score at 51:42 in favor of the red and whites.
Rokas Giedraitis took on the role of the executioner in the third quarter, alongside Teodosic, paving the way for Ioannis Sfairopoulos’s team to a plus 16 midway through that part of the game. The veteran playmaker played a simultaneous role, achieving a double-double before the fourth quarter and securing a calm finish for his team, marking their sixth win in the competition.
The most efficient players in the winning team were Teodosic with 27 points and 14 assists (PIR 40), while Joel Bolomboy contributed 20 points. Wade Baldwin led Maccabi Tel Aviv with 22 points.
In the next round, Maccabi Tel Aviv will be visiting Zalgiris, while Crvena Zvezda will face Panathinaikos.
Milos Teodosic and Mike Tobey ignite the red and whites
Maccabi Tel Aviv looked excellent defensively at the beginning, pressuring Yago dos Santos and causing problems for the Israeli team. However, Branko Lazic responded with excellent plays on the other side. Both teams were not overly offensive, and the game was chaotic at times, with Maccabi Tel Aviv having a slight edge in such situations. Then, Milos Teodosić shone, and it seemed that Crvena Zvezda could head into the second quarter with a plus-three lead. However, Lorenzo Brown had other plans, equalizing with a three-pointer at the sound of the buzzer.
The red and whites opened the next period in a furious manner. Three-pointers in succession, first from Nemanja Nedovic, then two in a row from Mike Tobey, gave the nominal guests an 11-point lead. Maccabi Tel Aviv quickly bounced back and took advantage of Teodosic’s absence on the bench. However, this didn’t last long, as the Serbian playmaker returned and, in collaboration with Tobey, regained control. Adam Hanga rounded off an excellent first half with a precise long-distance shot.
Routine finish
That move by Hanga was a significant confidence boost for the red and whites, who played in a trance in the third quarter. Rokas Giedraitis woke up, and Crvena Zvezda led by plus 16. Teodosic played masterfully, dominating the court, and every move of his was lethal for the opponent. The playmaker, brought in as a replacement for Shabazz Napier, had 23 points and 11 assists before the start of the fourth quarter, contributing to Crvena Zvezda’s 14-point lead heading into the last 10 minutes.
Teodosic’s brilliance continued in the fourth quarter. Crvena Zvezda looked quite secure in that period as well, ultimately playing a dominant finish and confirming the win without any issues.
MACCABI TEL AVIV – CRVENA ZVEZDA 92:98 (20:20, 22:31, 23:28, 27:19)
Arena: “Aleksandar Nikolic”, Belgrade; Referees: Radovic, Aliaga, Baena.
Maccabi Tel Aviv: Cleveland 5, Webb, Brown 18, Baldwin 22, Menco 2, Sorkin 2, Rivero 8, Cohen, Mayer, Nebo 18, Blatt 11, Colson 4.
Crvena zvezda: Lazarevic, Teodosic 27 (14as), Hanga 6, Davidovac 5, Mitrovic 3, Lazic 4, Simonovic 2, Tobey 12, Bolomboy 20, Nedovic 3, Giedraitis 16, Dos Santos.