Dubai beat reigning champions Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in epic clash in Coca-Cola Arena

2024/25 AdmiralBet ABA League Round 1, Sunday, 22 September 2024:

DUBAI – Crvena zvezda Meridianbet 86:84 (28:16, 22:25, 16:22, 20:21)

PHOTO GALLERY

POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game recap: What a game! Dubai have beaten reigning AdmiralBet ABA League champions Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in the first 2024/25 NLB Match of the Round.

Dubai could not have wished for a better start of their basketball journey. This newly formed club had probably the toughest possible challenge in their debut in the AdmiralBet ABA League, yet they managed to defeat the league’s reigning champions in a truly epic clash in the Coca-Cola Arena.

The winner of the match was decided literally in the final moments when Codi Miller-McIntyre missed a 3-point shot that would have won the game for the visitors.

Dubai have therefore opened their first ever Admiralbet ABA League season with a huge win, while Crvena zvezda Meridianbet suffered defeat at the start of the season for the first time since the 2013/2014 campaign.

Key moments: Both sides had their shiny moments in this match. Dubai had a much better opening as they gained an early 17-point lead – 33:16, but then Crvena zvezda Meridianbet answered back with an 18:0 run to get in front – 33:34.

But, then Dubai once again took over the control over the game as they scored 17 more points in the rest of the first half to gain a 9-point lead at the halftime – 50:41.

The second half was even more epic, although we haven’t seen so many impressive runs or some major comebacks. Dubai were constantly in front, except from one moment late in the 3^rd quarter when Crvena zvezda Meridianbet managed to tie the score at 63:63. But, the home team managed to bounce back quickly and to continue rushing toward the historic win.

In the final minute, Nate Mason scored a 3-pointer to increase the lead of Dubai to 86:81, but immediately after that Nemanja Nedović responded with a 3-pointer of his own – 86:84. Dubai then failed to score, while Crvena zvezda Meridianbet had a bit less than 10 seconds to win this match.

Codi Miller-Mc-Intyre took the ball as he wanted to be today's hero, however his 3-point shot went way off the basket and the score remained 86:84 for Dubai.

Man of the match: Nate Mason deserves this reward today. He was the top scorer of Dubai with 18 points, while at one moment he even received MVP chants from the crowd in Coca-Cola Arena.

Can't trick the stats: At the end, that one single shot decided thr winner. Codi Miller-Mc-Intyre could have been the hero of Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in his first ever game in the red-and-white jersey, but he missed the shot and the the hosts grabbed the historic win.