By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In a late-thriller in Belgrade, Crvena Zvezda beat Khimki 96-91 and improved its chances to qualify to the top-16. Both teams now have the same record in group A (4-4), where five teams are fighting for three spots.
For the winners, Mike Zirbes and Quincy Miller were unstoppable, scoring 27 and 25 points, respectively (along with seven rebounds). On the other hand, Alexey Shved was tremendous with 28 points and six assists for the losing squad, as four more players were in double digits.
Crvena Zvezda made a better start to the game and quickly took an eight-point advantage (18-10), executing very well on both ends of the floor. However, the Russians fought back, made a 9-16 run and cut the deficit to one point at the end of the first quarter (27-26). Later, the visitors were in front (34-39), but the Serbians made a 10-0 run and regained the lead (44-39). Khimki, though, responded and closed the first half with a small advantage (50-53), behind a 6-14 run.
In the second half, Rimas Kurtinaitis’ players were comfortably retaining the lead (52-60, 58-65), but Crvena Zvezda fought back, made a 10-4 run and cut the deficit to one point, after 30 minutes in the game (68-69). The Serbians started the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run and earned a six-point advantage (75-69), but the visitors came back, made a 7-2 run and were down by one (77-76), with five minutes to go. In the remaining minutes, the match continued to be close (86-82, 88-86), but Crvena Zvezda hit some big shots and earned a big victory (96-91), which increases the team’s chances to advance to the next round.