Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade reignited its EuroLeague campaign on Wednesday night, defeating Anadolu Efes Istanbul 91-81 at Belgrade Arena in a game that blended elite perimeter shooting with late interior dominance.
The victory lifted Zvezda to 17-12, keeping them firmly in the playoff picture and snapping a two-game losing streak at a crucial stage of the regular season.
Jared Butler delivered one of the most efficient shooting displays of the EuroLeague season, drilling 7 of 9 attempts from beyond the arc and finishing with 21 points in just over 22 minutes.
As a team, Zvezda shot 12-of-24 from three-point range (50%), with Nikola Kalinic adding 2-of-3 from deep and Codi Miller-McIntyre and Ognjen Dobric chipping in timely makes.
Yet the decisive stretch came without a single three-pointer.
After Kalinic’s triple made it 35-32 late in the second quarter, Zvezda never trailed again, but Efes stayed within striking distance behind balanced scoring and disciplined execution.
Efes erupted for 25 third-quarter points in just over eight minutes, threatening to flip the momentum, but Zvezda responded by shifting its offensive focus inside.
Between Butler’s sixth and seventh three-pointers, the Serbian side went nearly 12 minutes without a long-range basket, instead attacking the paint relentlessly.
Chima Moneke and Jordan Nwora each converted three-point plays during that stretch, part of a sequence in which Zvezda scored seven two-point field goals through aggressive drives and second-chance opportunities.
That interior push was backed by control of the glass.
Zvezda outrebounded Efes 41-32, including 13 offensive boards that translated into 12 second-chance points — a decisive edge in a game that was otherwise competitive.
Defensively, the hosts tightened the screws in the fourth quarter, allowing Efes just one field goal over a key six-minute span that broke the game open.
Miller-McIntyre orchestrated the balance, posting 12 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists with only one turnover, controlling tempo when Efes threatened to speed the game up.
For Efes, PJ Dozier led the way with 21 points, while Isaia Cordinier added 14, but the Turkish side fell to 9-20 and remains near the bottom of the standings.
Zvezda now prepares to host FC Bayern Munich next Friday, aiming to consolidate its top-six position and build on a performance that showcased both shooting firepower and playoff-level physicality.
