Hapoel Tel-Aviv left Belgrade with a one-point Euroleague win, beating KK Crvena zvezda 81-80 in Round 2. The visitors controlled most of the night and then survived a late home surge. It was a game where free throws, turnovers and timely defense meant more than rebounding dominance or field-goal volume.

For full box score, play-by-play and live win-probability graphs, see the match page on Sofascore.

Hapoel seized it early and spent 39 minutes in front

Hapoel opened with a 28-18 first quarter and never really let go. The second quarter was level at 17-17, which kept the margin intact at halftime. Crvena zvezda chipped away with a 24-22 third and then tightened the screws in a 21-14 fourth, but the gap was just out of reach. According to the game stats, Hapoel led for 39:36 of the 40 minutes and posted a biggest lead of 12. There were only two lead changes in total, which tells the story of who set the tone.

It was classic road management from Dimitrios Itoudis’ side. They endured several mini-runs, including a 10-0 punch from the hosts, and answered with a 13-0 burst of their own. Ibon Navarro’s Crvena zvezda threw on extra guards and pressed late, and the crowd got into it as the final seconds ticked down. The visitors stayed just calm enough, used the clock, and protected the one-possession edge. One late free throw proved the difference in a finish that had Belgrade Arena holding its breath.

Free throws and ball security tipped the balance

Look at the free throw line and you find the winning margin. Hapoel went 22 of 30 at the stripe, while Crvena zvezda hit 16 of 20. That is a six-point advantage from the line for the visitors in a one-point game. The fouls column explains a lot too, with the hosts whistled 29 times compared to 22 for Hapoel. More whistles against Crvena zvezda meant more pressure trips for the visitors and more chances to keep the scoreboard moving.

Possession care was the second big swing. Hapoel turned it over only six times, while Crvena zvezda coughed it up 13 times. Add in 7 steals for Hapoel against just 2 for the hosts and the picture is clear. Those extra live-ball takeaways helped Hapoel survive stretches when the shots were not falling. Blocks leaned Hapoel 5 to 2 as well, another small but real deterrent around the rim in key moments.

Rebounds and passing favored the hosts, but not the final score

Crvena zvezda pounded the glass 51-38, including a 17-11 edge in offensive rebounds. That should be the backbone of a home win, but it did not quite convert into enough points. The hosts also out-assisted Hapoel 21-12, moving the ball well for large spells in the half court. On shooting volume, Crvena zvezda made more field goals at 28 of 69 compared to Hapoel’s 25 of 66.

Inside the arc, the hosts led 20 of 41 on twos against 16 of 36 for Hapoel. From deep it was basically a wash, 8 of 28 for Crvena zvezda versus 9 of 30 for the visitors. The problem for the hosts was the combination of giveaways and fouls that erased those advantages. Every empty trip followed by free throws on the other end compounded the math. Hapoel accepted the trade-off, slowed the tempo when needed, and cashed in at the stripe.

In short, Crvena zvezda won the hustle on the glass and most of the ball movement categories, but Hapoel won the fragility battle. Fewer mistakes and more free throws beat extra rebounds this time.

Standouts and Sofascore Ratings

Elijah Bryant was the game’s most complete performer. He posted 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals, shot a perfect 9 of 9 on free throws, and delivered a game-high PIR of 31. His Sofascore Rating was 8.5, reflecting two-way impact and big late-game composure. Zach LeDay added 12 points on strong efficiency with 2 made threes, while Vasilije Micic scored 11 with three triples and 6 rebounds, even if his 4 of 17 shooting made it a grind. Tomas Satoransky chipped in 8 points, including a clutch free throw in the closing stretch, plus 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

For Crvena zvezda, Jared Butler brought the spark off the bench with 19 points, hitting 4 threes and finishing with a Sofascore Rating of 8.1. Tyson Carter gave 12 points with clean shot selection and 3 assists, while Jordan Nwora had 13 points, 5 boards and went 7 of 9 at the line. Semi Ojeleye was busy on the boards with 8 rebounds and added 3 assists and a block. Nick Weiler-Babb did a bit of everything with 6 rebounds and 6 assists in a glue-guy role.

Despite those individual efforts, the small margins went Hapoel’s way. The visitors’ rotation guards also kept the turnover count low, which is a coach’s favorite line on the stat sheet in tight road wins. On Sofascore you can compare every player’s shot chart and advanced splits from the game in one place.

Key takeaways for Euroleague fans

Hapoel Tel-Aviv showed how to win on the road without out-rebounding or out-assisting the opponent. They defended without fouling in the final minutes, made enough threes to stretch the floor, and took care of the ball. Crvena zvezda will like the effort and the late rally but will regret the foul and turnover totals. The hosts also created second chances but needed slightly better conversion on those extra looks.

There is no panic in Round 2, but there is plenty to study on film. Expect Crvena zvezda to double down on discipline and late-game execution. Expect Hapoel to feel good about their crunch-time calm and defensive activity. For more context, player heat maps and the full box score, head to the match hub on Sofascore. It has everything you need to track Euroleague form with live Sofascore Ratings all season.