Božić-less Zadar stun Crvena zvezda mts on the road

AdmiralBet ABA League Round 6, Monday, 7 November 2022:

Crvena zvezda mts - ZADAR 96:98 (19:27, 22:25, 25:23, 30:23)

PHOTO GALLERY

POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game recap: What a game! Despite playing without their star player Luka Božić, Zadar have managed to defeat reigning champions Crvena zvezda mts on the road.

The visitors have had the lead throughout the whole game, while they managed to stay in front in a thrilling ending in which Zvezda had two chances to tie the score.

This was the first away win for Zadar against Crvena zvezda mts since 2010!

Zadar have therefore improved their season score to 4-2, while they have also become the first team in this season to beat Crvena zvezda mts who are now at the overall score of 4-1.

Key moments: Zadar entered the last quarter with a 9-point lead, but the visitors knew very well that they would have an extremely difficult task to keep that lead in the final 10 minutes as on the other side of the court were the reigning champions.

And, 2 minutes before the end, Zadar were in front by just 3 points – 92:89, while Crvena zvezda mts had the ball possession. Zvezda’s best player from tonight’s game Luca Vildoza pulled up for a 3-pointer that would have tied the score, but he missed the shot.

Crvena zvezda mts did manage to reduce Zadar’s lead to 92:91, but the visitors answered back immediately via Marko Ramljak and regained a 3-point lead – 94:91. With less than one minute on the game clock, Crvena zvezda mts had one more chance to tie the score, but Nemanja Nedović's 3-point attempt was not good and Zadar went on to win this thrilling clash.

Man of the match: We have mentioned Marko Ramljak earlier in the text and he now deserves that we write his name once again. Ramljak was simply brilliant tonight in Belgrade as he made 20 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. His overall index rating was 29.

Can't trick the stats: It's not easy to win the battle in the paint against Crvena zvezda mts, but Zadar managed to do so this evening in Belgrade. The visitors made 4 rebounds more than their rivals tonight, while some of their offensive rebounds in the 4th quarter brought them huge buckets.