Crvena zvezda waited until the finish to make it unmistakable.
In a Euroleague 2025 matchup with real standings weight — Zvezda entering at 15-10 and Hapoel Tel-Aviv at 16-8 — the home side authored the game’s defining sequence in the fourth quarter, ripping off a 25-6 closing period to secure an 87-75 win Tuesday night at Beogradska arena.
Game flow: tight for 30 minutes, then a knockout
The first half played like a coin flip. Crvena zvezda edged the opening quarter 25-21, then matched Hapoel point-for-point in the second (24-24), taking a 49-45 lead into halftime.
Hapoel responded with its best stretch after the break, winning the third quarter 24-13 to grab momentum and carry a 69-62 advantage into the fourth. From there, the game flipped completely.
Zvezda’s 25-6 fourth quarter wasn’t just a rally — it was a shutdown. Holding any Euroleague opponent to six points in a quarter is a statement, and it turned a seven-point deficit into a 12-point win.
The turning point: fourth-quarter defense sets the tone
Everything that had been working for Hapoel across the middle quarters disappeared in the final 10 minutes. After scoring 21, 24, and 24 points in the first three quarters, Hapoel managed only six in the fourth — a drastic drop that decided the night.
Crvena zvezda, meanwhile, returned to the offensive level it showed early, posting 25 in the fourth to mirror its first-quarter output and close with force.
Ball movement: narrow edge to Zvezda
The assist numbers underscored how connected both offenses were for most of the game. Crvena zvezda finished with 20 assists, just ahead of Hapoel Tel-Aviv’s 19.
In a contest that swung on execution late, that extra layer of organization — and the ability to turn stops into clean possessions — mattered most when the margin tightened and then snapped.
What it means going forward
For Crvena zvezda, the win reinforces its recent momentum (WWWWL entering the night) and adds a high-value result against a team that arrived with a stronger record. More importantly, it showcased a blueprint that travels: win the possession game late, defend without fouling, and turn a close contest into a controlled finish.
For Hapoel Tel-Aviv, the first 30 minutes provided enough to win — the final quarter erased it. After entering in strong form (LLWWW), Hapoel will leave Belgrade with a clear priority: sustaining offensive stability when the game tightens and the opponent raises its defensive pressure.
Quarter-by-quarter
Q1: Crvena zvezda 25, Hapoel Tel-Aviv 21
Q2: Crvena zvezda 24, Hapoel Tel-Aviv 24
Q3: Hapoel Tel-Aviv 24, Crvena zvezda 13
Q4: Crvena zvezda 25, Hapoel Tel-Aviv 6
Final
Crvena zvezda 87, Hapoel Tel-Aviv 75