Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade delivered its strongest performance of the EuroLeague season, defeating Dubai Basketball 77-58 on Thursday at Coca-Cola Arena and limiting the hosts to their lowest-ever scoring total.
The victory improved Crvena Zvezda to 2-2 and gave head coach Ibon Navarro breathing room after an inconsistent start. Dubai also dropped to 2-2 after suffering its first home defeat of the EuroLeague campaign, having opened with victories over Real Madrid and Barcelona at the same venue.
Jordan Nwora led the Serbian side with 20 points and six rebounds, earning player of the game honors. Semi Ojeleye added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Jared Butler scored 11. Chris Jones contributed nine points, four rebounds and four assists as Crvena Zvezda controlled the contest with its defense and rebounding.
The visitors collected 41 rebounds against Dubai’s 36 and held the hosts to 38.5% shooting on two-point attempts and 22.7% from three-point range. Dubai made only five of 22 shots from beyond the arc and finished with 11 assists and 11 turnovers.
Both teams struggled to establish offensive rhythm during a low-scoring first half, but Crvena Zvezda began to pull away early in the third quarter. An 8-0 run extended the visitors’ advantage to 45-31, creating a gap Dubai could not close.
Nwora provided the scoring punch, making five of seven two-point attempts and three of six three-pointers. Ojeleye shot 2-for-2 inside the arc, while Butler added two three-pointers to help Crvena Zvezda maintain its advantage despite making only eight of 30 attempts from long range itself.
Dubai struggled to find reliable scoring beyond Dwayne Bacon, who finished with 13 points after scoring nine in the first quarter. Tornike Shengelia added 12 points, while Elie Okobo had 10 but shot just 3-for-13 from the field. Dubai lost the rebounding battle 41-36 and managed only 15 made two-point shots on 39 attempts.
Crvena Zvezda will visit LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne next Tuesday, while Dubai travels to Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on the same day.
