Ibon Navarro's Crvena Zvezda remains winless. They fell 80-81 to Hapoel Tel Aviv at Belgrade Arena in a game they chased from the start and nearly stole in the final seventy-six seconds.
Chasing from the Start
Hapoel controlled the scoreboard from the opening tip. The first quarter ended 18-28 and the Israeli squad closed the first half with a 7-0 run that left it 35-45 at halftime.
The Serbian side grew stronger as the minutes passed, with more solidity and better control of the game. Jordan Nwora, Jared Butler and Tyson Carter carried the offensive load, but Hapoel maintained the advantage leaning heavily on offensive rebounding.
Read also:
Milutinov doesn't travel to Kaunas: EuroLeague Matchday 2 absences
EuroLeague 2026-27 Market: All signings and departures
Bryant Dunston returns to Olympiacos eleven years later
Micic's Two Three-Pointers
Every time Crvena Zvezda threatened to tighten the screws, the same player appeared. Vasilije Micic, playing against the club where he developed, hit two three-pointers down the stretch. The second, with 1:16 remaining, made it 70-80 and appeared to seal it.
Seventy-Six Seconds of Drama
But the game wasn't over. Nwora cut it to 72-80, Butler hit a three-pointer for 75-80 with 39 seconds left and Semi Ojeleye reduced the deficit to three from the free-throw line, after making both shots with 11.5 seconds remaining.
Tomas Satoransky answered with a free throw for 77-81 with nine seconds left, and there was still one last chance: Butler hit another three-pointer practically at the buzzer for the final 80-81.
Hapoel had scored just one point in the final minute-plus. It was enough.
The Numbers
Butler was the home team's leading scorer with 19 points, followed by Nwora with 13, Tyson Carter with 12 and Chima Moneke with 9.
Where It Leaves Each Team
It's Crvena Zvezda's second consecutive loss, after opening with a home defeat to Zalgiris and now stringing together two setbacks at home in Ibon Navarro's debut.
For Hapoel it's their first win of the season, after losing in Sofia to Bayern. Their next matchup is against Real Madrid.