FC Bayern Munich secured a thrilling 97-93 overtime victory over Crvena Zvezda in their EuroLeague Play-In Showdown on Thursday. The win ensures that Bayern will face Real Madrid for a spot in the EuroLeague Playoffs.
Devin Booker led the charge for Bayern with 21 points and 5 rebounds. Carsen Edwards added 17 points, while Nick Weiler-Babb contributed 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Vladimir Lucic and Ivan Kharchenkov chipped in with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
For Crvena Zvezda, Filip Petrusev put on an impressive display, scoring 30 points along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Nikola Kalinic added 20 points and 7 rebounds, while Nemanja Nedovic contributed 13 points.
Zvezda’s Serbian fans roared in support as their team built a 23-16 lead late in the first quarter. Kalinic and Petrusev combined for 17 points, helping Zvezda capitalize on Bayern’s early mistakes. However, Bayern closed the quarter with a 5-0 run to narrow the deficit.
Bayern responded in the second quarter, with 18-year-old Ivan Kharchenkov emerging as a key player, scoring a career-high 11 points in just over 6 minutes. This effort helped Bayern gain a 31-30 lead before Zvezda surged again, with Nedovic’s 9 points propelling the visitors to a 36-46 advantage at halftime.
Bayern’s tenacity on the offensive boards kept them in the game, and they went into the third quarter trailing by just 6 points. The German side then exploded with a 22-6 run, taking a 71-61 lead heading into the final quarter.
With a 74-63 lead early in the fourth, Bayern appeared to be in control. But Zvezda responded with a 3-17 run to take an 80-77 lead. The dramatic finish saw Petrusev tie the game with a last-second shot to force overtime.
In overtime, Lucic hit two crucial three-pointers, giving Bayern a 90-84 lead. Weiler-Babb sealed the game with a stunning assist to Booker, who dunked for an easy basket. Zvezda missed five free throws in the final moments, unable to extend the game further.
