EL: Narrow EuroLeague Defeats for Dubai Basketball and Crvena zvezda Meridianbet

It was a painful EuroLeague night for both Dubai Basketball and Crvena zvezda Meridianbet, as the two AdmiralBet ABA League representatives suffered narrow, late-game defeats in dramatic fashion.

Dubai Basketball came agonizingly close to pulling off another home thriller, but eventually fell to Maccabi Tel Aviv, 95:97, after conceding a decisive basket in the final moments of the game. The Dubai side once again showed tremendous character, fighting their way back from a double-digit deficit and refusing to give in when the pressure was at its highest.

The turning point came in the closing seconds when McKinley Wright IV produced a sensational four-point play - drilling a three-pointer and converting the free throw after being fouled - to tie the score with under 20 seconds remaining. However, Maccabi Tel Aviv managed to respond immediately, scoring a crucial two-pointer to regain the lead and eventually leave Dubai with a hard-fought win.

Meanwhile, Crvena zvezda Meridianbet endured a tough road loss against Hapoel Tel Aviv, falling 78:84 in a game that slipped away in the final minute. The Belgrade side stayed within striking distance throughout the contest and were trailing by just two points, 78:80, with under a minute left on the clock.

Zvezda had their chances to turn the game around, but missed two crucial shots - first a three-pointer by Jared Butler, followed by a two-point attempt from Codi Miller-McIntyre. Hapoel Tel Aviv capitalized on those missed opportunities, scoring four unanswered points in the closing moments to seal the victory and hand the Belgrade giant another narrow defeat.

After tonight’s results, Crvena zvezda Meridianbet now stand at 9-7 overall in the EuroLeague standings, while Dubai Basketball dropped to a 7-9 record.

2025/26 EuroLeague, Regular Season, Round 16, Tuesday, December 16, 2025:

Dubai Basketball – MACCABI RAPYD TEL AVIV 95:97 (30:23, 22:28, 14:28, 29:18)
Wright IV 26, Anderson 18 | Hoard 21, Sorkin 17.

HAPOEL IBI TEL AVIV – Crvena zvezda Meridianbet 84:78 (21:21, 19:16, 21:22, 23:19)
Bryant 28, Oturu 18 | Butler 27, Miller-McIntyre 13.

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Partizan Mozzart Bet – Virtus Bologna (20:30)