By Alex Madrid / info@eurohoops.net
Crvena Zvezda mts upset Real Madrid with 87-83 to get its first victory in the Spanish capital. The guests improved to a 3-7 record while Pablo Laso’s men fell to 5-5 after Day 10 on EuroLeague.
Dejan Davidovac with three made free throws gave to Zvezda a crucial 84-81 lead. However, it was Pero Antic who sealed the deal with a big three (87-83) with seven seconds left on the clock.
The star: It was the team that gave to Zvezda the win but Taylor Rochestie was the first among equals with 18 points and 7 assists, leading the way for the upset.
The key: Antic and Davidovac closed the game the right way with a 6-2 run for the guests, while Trey Tompkins and Facundo Campazzo missed two crucial shots, while Luca Doncic and Rudy Fernandez made two crucial turnovers. Thanks to the made shot of Antic, Zvezda tied the franchise record with 17 made threes in a game.
It was obvious almost from the first quarter that Madrid will not have a walk in the park. After a slow start, Doncic scored 12 points in 5 minutes off the bench and the hosts took the lead (24 – 19 at the end of the first quarter). Crvena Zvezda reacted in the second quarter led by Taylor Rochestie and Milko Bjelica. A great defensive performance allowed the guests a 7-point-advantage at the half (39 – 46).
A couple of threes from James Feldeine increased the lead to double-digits (41 – 52, 22′). The guests kept the lead thanks to a “hot” quarter from beyond the arc with 5 three-pointers.
An 11-2 run commanded by Jaycee Carroll made it a close game again (69 – 70, 33′) but Nemanja Danguvic responded with back-to-back threes and with two minutes left the score was tied at 81 thanks to Doncic. Τhe boy wonder finished the game with 20 points, but they were not enough.