Blue and White Belgrade: Velika Buducnost wins another Euroleague field

There is nothing impossible when it comes to Buducnost, even when teams from the Euroleague playoff zone are on the other side, when the boys in "blue and white" play in a city that not many of Europe's strongest teams have conquered this season.

Another memorable match, another character that destroys everything in front of him, another great team led by Andrej Žakelj... After Partizan, Red Star Belgrade also fell - In a big drama, the basketball players of Budućnost Voli recorded a big victory, 96:89 after extra time.

To stay at the top, Partizan needs a score of 18-2, which is the same as theirs, while Red Star, with 16-4, is out of the picture for the top two spots before the playoffs.

Similar to the match against Partizan a little less than two months ago, Buducnost once again controlled things on the Euroleague field - they led practically throughout the match, and when Red Star threatened, they would come up with the right answer.

The only downfall came at the end of the regular 40 minutes, when the Montenegrin champion, with a plus 10 (78:68), found himself in a situation where he risked defeat.

However, Cody Miller-McIntyre hit only one free throw for 80:80, and then in the additional five minutes McKinley Wright once again showed what kind of player and leader he has grown into - he scored seven points, followed by Rashid Sulajmon, and the victory deservedly went to Podgorica.

The first against Red Star in Belgrade since December 2020. 

A solid and disciplined defense announced a big night from the start, and the offense was not far behind, so there were attractive points, nice actions, and when it didn't work out in the first half, there was an excellent offensive rebound by the "blue and whites".

Juwan Morgan opened the match brilliantly in both directions, followed by Wright and Sulaiman, and after a three-pointer by Fletcher Magee, the scoreboard in "Pionir" showed 15:8 for the guests. Then Yogi Ferrell also played, and Buducnost reached a double-digit lead for the first time, 19:8.

Red Star came close to being down two points several times, but the "blue and white" always had an answer - first in the first half when they repelled the rivals' rush (24:22) with a Wright basket and extra point and a Morgan three-pointer, and then in the third quarter (44:42) through Sulajmon, Ferrell and Kenan Kamenjaš.

Buducnost had a plus six (10:63) in the last 57 minutes, an advantage they maintained until the break, even after Red Star was approaching minus one. At that moment, Fletcher Magee, in his style, repelled the pressure of his rivals with three-pointers.

And then it was total madness in the last quarter. The "Blue and White" led 75:66 through Sulaymnon, and on the wings of Nikola Tanasković with four minutes and 26 seconds left, they had a huge 10-point difference (78:68)... It seemed like it was over, but then the already described only decline occurred.

Miller-McIntyre missed both penalties for the home team's victory, he may not have been lucky, but luck has to be earned. And that was just Buducnost tonight.

This was followed by a three-pointer by Sulajmon in the extra five minutes, then a show-time by Wright - for a victory to remember, a victory that may herald a repeat of 2018, when Buducnost was last the ABA League champion.

RED STAR - FUTURE LOVES 89:96 (11:19, 25:23, 21:21, 23:17, 9:16)

Belgrade - "Aleksandar Nikolić" Hall. Attendance: 4.482. Javor, Petek (Slovenia), Porobić (BiH).

Red Star: MILLER-MCINTAYER 16 (4-3), BROWN 4 (2-1), Teodosić 6 (2-2), Davidovac 5, Mitrović 5 (1-1), KALINIĆ 11 (2-1), DOBRIC, Bolomboy 12 (3-2), PETRUSEV 17 (9-7), Gedraitis, Nedović 7 (4-4), Dos Santos 6 (2-2).

Buducnost Voli: MORGAN 11 (4-4), SULAJMON 17 (8-5), Ilic, Megi 9, SLAVKOVIĆ, Tanasković 16 (5-4), Ferel 13 (1-1), Jovanović 2, Drežnjak, Omic 1 (4-1), WRIGHT 19 (2-2), KAMENJAŠ 8.

KRAAAAAAAJ - what a victory, what a Future - after Partizan in Belgrade, another Euroleague team has fallen.

Red Star - Buducnost 87:96.

McKinley Wright is incredible again, the leader as he was against Partizan - the "blues" point guard scored eight points, Buducnost is 11:96 with a minute and 87 left

What heart and what composure from the "blue and whites". Miller-McIntyre scored for the home team's lead 87:85, but Sulajmon quickly returned the three-pointer, and then Wright also scored from outside the 6,75 line after great defense by Kamenjaš - Buducnost leads 21:91 with two minutes and 87 seconds left in overtime.  

But Buducnost has the answer once again - Wright has hit the jackpot for Buducnost's new leadership.

Red Star leads for the first time in the game - 82:81.

Sulajmon failed from a difficult position, five more minutes will be played - 80:80.

Miller-McIntyre used only one penalty - 80:80, Buducnost has a second to try to kick for the win.

The "Blues" deserved to have everything back in that second, even though they didn't hit a basket during the last two and a half minutes.

Incredible scenes in Pionir - Red Star had an attack to win at 80:79. Buducnost defended excellently, but Sulajmon fouled Miller-McIntyre with one second left.

Buducnost has only a plus one (80:79), although it recently had a ten-point difference.

Another missed shot, this time by Kamenjaš... After that, Nedović reduced the score to 80:77 from the penalty spot. Incidentally, when Sulajmon fouled, the referees incomprehensibly called three free throws for the Red Star player, so Žakelj had to ask for a challenge and force them to correct the decision.

Before that, under the Red Star basket, they missed an elbow by Bolomboy in the face of Tanasković.

The "blues" could have increased their lead at 78:70, they had a five-on-three attack, but Sulajmon missed a three-pointer. Zvezda then came close to minus six with points from Miller-McIntyre's penalty kick. 

Excellent Tanasković - two plus one for plus 10 (78:68), with four and a half minutes left. 

Showtime by Sulajmon - five consecutive points for plus nine with five minutes and 18 seconds left (75:66). 

Omić didn't hit the penalty, but Wright did, and then once again in a new attack - Buducnost led 70:65 with six and a half minutes left.

A great fight at the start of the final quarter, with seven and a half minutes left in the game, Buducnost had a plus four (66:62), but also two penalties and an onside kick after an unsportsmanlike foul by Teodosic.

A new (crazy) three-pointer by Maggie put an end to the 3rd quarter - Buducnost is playing a great match, the lead is the same as at halftime, plus six (63:57).

What dedication and what a fight from Andrej Žakelj's team - after Jovanović missed a three-pointer, Omić fought back for another attack, and then from outside the 6,75 line, Megi made no mistake (60:56).

The home team came close to being down by one, but Tanasković had a great response on the other end (57:54)

Once again, for the third time in the game, Red Star is approaching minus two (54:52) - Buducnost has had an answer so far, will it continue like that...