Crvena Zvezda overcome Baskonia in a nail-biter ending / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Srdjan Stevanovic/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Srdjan Stevanovic/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Serbian side Crvena Zvezda (9-12) reacted after a very poor first quarter and defeated Spanish side Baskonia (7-15) in a really close game with the final score of 86-83 (13-26, 28-15, 14-15, 31-27).

Player of the Game EFF 24 Luka Mitrovic Points 18 Accuracy 6-8 Rebounds 5 Assists 0

Simone Fontecchio's three-pointer kept Baskonia in the game (84-81), Nate Wolters missed two free throws but on the following play, Fontecchio couldn't find the basket from deep and Zvezda ended up with the win.

In the last two minutes, though, Crvena Zvezda were able to extend again their lead to 10 points (82-72) but Matt Costello answered with six straight points and reduced Baskonia's deficit to just four points (82-78).

At the beginning of the final period, Crvena Zvezda created a good lead with a couple of consecutive three-pointers (70-61). The two teams started to exchange three-pointers for a couple of minutes and after a Costello layup, Baskonia reduced Zvezda's lead to just three points (75-72).

Crvena Zvezda continued its good moment starting the third quarter with an 11-2 run (52-43), while Baskonia kept struggling to find again their offensive groove of the first quarter. In the last two minutes of the period, though, Baskonia bounced back, thanks mostly to Jayson Granger, who was able to provide on both ends of the court. The Spanish side led by 1 at the end of the third (56-55)

In the second quarter, though, Zvezda fought back and answered with a 13-4 run to cut Baskonia's lead to four points (30-26). Luka Mitrovic dominated the second quarter with 12 points off the bench, helping Zvezda to score 28 points in the period and going into the locker room with a tied game (41-41).

Baskonia started the game on an 8-0 run and immediately found some groove offensively. Simone Fontecchio and Wade Baldwin shared most of the offensive load, combining for 20 of the 26 points scored by the Spanish side in the first quarter. Zvezda struggled to find easy baskets and finished with only 13 points.

Luka Mitrovic was the top scorer for Crvena Zvezda with 18 points (6/8 2PT, 6/7 FT), 5 rebounds, and 24 PIR.

For Baskonia the top scorer was Simone Fontecchio with 19 points (5/10 2PT, 3/6 3PT) 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 21 PIR.

Crvena Zvezda: Luka Mitrovic 18 (5 REB), Nate Wolters 17, Austin Hollins 12, Nikola Kalinic 11

Baskonia: Simone Fontecchio 19 (8 REB), Wade Baldwin 18 (5 AST), Jayson Granger 15 (7 AST), Matthew Costello 14 (6 REB)

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