Crvena Zvezda Belgrade opened its EuroLeague campaign with a gritty 77-72 victory over Anadolu Efes Istanbul at a raucous Belgrade Arena, using a late fourth-quarter surge to secure a valuable early-season win. In a game that was tight for nearly 38 minutes, the Red and Whites found the decisive plays on both ends down the stretch, while Efes was left to rue missed opportunities from beyond the arc.

Match overview

The hosts led 21-18 after the first quarter, but Efes answered with a 20-17 second period to send the teams into halftime tied at 38-38. Crvena Zvezda regained a slim edge in the third, outscoring the visitors 19-16, and then closed the game with a 20-18 fourth-quarter advantage. The final score reflected the defensive nature of the contest: neither team shot better than 44% from the field, and every possession in the closing minutes carried playoff-level weight.

• Final score: Crvena Zvezda Belgrade 77, Anadolu Efes Istanbul 72
• Quarter scores: 21-18, 17-20, 19-16, 20-18
• Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade
• Competition: EuroLeague 2026-27 regular season

Key moments

Efes held a 66-64 lead with just over five minutes remaining after a Shane Larkin pull-up jumper, but Crvena Zvezda responded with a 9-0 run that flipped the game. Nemanja Nedovic hit a contested three from the wing, Filip Petrusev blocked a shot at the rim, and Codi Miller-McIntyre capped the burst with a driving layup. Efes never regained the lead, though it had a chance to tie in the final minute before a forced three-pointer rimmed out.

Tactical story

Crvena Zvezda’s coaching staff switched to a compact zone defense in the fourth quarter, daring Efes to beat them from the perimeter. The adjustment worked: the Turkish side finished just 8-of-28 from three-point range and committed 13 turnovers, several of them during the decisive stretch. Offensively, the hosts leaned on their physicality inside, grabbing 38 rebounds to Efes’s 34 and turning 11 offensive boards into crucial second-chance points.

Standout players

Codi Miller-McIntyre was the engine for Crvena Zvezda, finishing with 16 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds while controlling the tempo. Filip Petrusev added 14 points and 8 rebounds, and Nemanja Nedovic chipped in 13 points, including three three-pointers. For Efes, Shane Larkin led all scorers with 18 points and 6 assists, while Vincent Poirier posted 12 points and 9 rebounds. Elijah Bryant contributed 11 points, but Efes’s supporting cast struggled to find rhythm in the half-court.

EuroLeague standings impact

The win moves Crvena Zvezda to 1-0 and gives the club an early confidence boost in the race for a playoff spot. Anadolu Efes drops to 0-1 and will need to correct its perimeter shooting before a difficult upcoming slate. In a league where point differential and head-to-head results often decide postseason seeding, this four-point home win could prove more significant than it first appears.