By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
Yago Dos Santos scored the winning layup with just four seconds to play as Crvena Zvezda took an 88 – 86 win over archrival Partizan Belgrade in the Serbian ABA League derby. Thanks to this win, Zvezda made a major step toward finishing the ABA regular season in the first place, moving to 16 – 2 while Partizan dropped to 13-5.
Partizan had erased a 19-point (75-56) deficit in the fourth quarter to make it a one-possession game just in the last 30 seconds. The visiting side tied the score at 86 with 11 seconds remaining via three free throws by James Nunnally after both Nemanja Nedovic and Aleksa Avramovic went 1-2 in their trips to the line.
Dos Santos took it upon himself to make the decisive attempt. The Brazilian guard carried the ball to the other side of the floor, drove past his opponents and beat the defense of both Ognjen Jaramaz and Alen Smailagic to hit a tough, acrobatic bucket that gave Zvezda the victory.
.@Ymateus02 for the WIN 🔥😱🇧🇷#kkcz #WeAreTheTeam pic.twitter.com/YnzgQHsl2v
— KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) January 28, 2024
The final tally for Dos Santos was 13 points plus four assists. Adam Hanga led Red Star with 15 points while Joel Bolomboy posted 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Nunnally scored 19 for Partizan. Frank Kaminsky had 18 points plus five rebounds and Kevin Punter dropped 14 points, all of them in the second half.
2023-24 ABA League Round 18 Results:
Krka – Mornar Bar 79 – 72
SC Derby – Cedevita Olimpija 82 – 78
Mega MIS – Buducnost 78 – 62
Crvena Zvezda – Partizan Belgrade 88 – 86
Split – FMP (Monday 29/1)
Cibona – Zadar (Monday 29/1)
Standings: Zvezda 16 – 2, Partizan 13 – 5, Buducnost 13 – 5…