Red Star 65-73 Barça: Electric display in Belgrade

A 65-73 victory in Serbia means Barça are 4-0 in the Euroleague. The fabulous start to the European campaign was continued once again by a stellar Mirotic (21 points) as they made up for a first half in which Red Star defended well on the paint with a simply electric third period.

The home side led a low-scoring first period (16-12), with defence outwitting offence at both ends. Threes from Kuric and Higgins looked to have changed the dynamic but stray shots continued to feature prominently as Red Star gradually built up a +13 lead. It was time for Mirotic to burst into action, and by the break the difference had been cut to just three (36-33).

Red Star surged back with a 7-0 streak, but Davies and Mirotic helped make sure the second period slump would not be repeated. Quite the contrary, the Catalans finally got their game back and by the end of the third quarter, they were ahead.

The Pionir was silenced. In a game they were once cruising, they were now 15-down to the blaugrana. Mirotic as majestic as ever, expertly scouted by Davies and Kuric, and with the defence tight as a rock.

And so it was that Barça picked up an impressive win in Belgrade, and fly back to prepare for Casademont Zaragoza on Sunday at 6.30pm CET in the Liga Endesa.

MATCH STATS

 
Red Star Belgrade: Lorenzo (6), Lazic (-), Davidovac (7), Simanic (8), Ojo (7), Kuzmic (2), Covic (-), Perperoglou (6), Faye (8), Dobric (8), Gist (10) & Jenkins (3)
Barça: Higgins (5), Hanga (8), Abrines (1), Mirotic (21), Davies (14), Kuric (15), Tomic (4), Bolmaro (-), Oriola (-) & Smits (5)
 
Periods: 16-12 / 20-21 // 13-24 / 16-16