80-81: Hapoel Tel-Aviv escape Belgrade despite 51-38 rebound deficit

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39:36. That is how long Hapoel Tel-Aviv spent in front at Belgrade Arena. Crvena zvezda's share of the evening: 14 seconds. The scoreboard eventually read 80-81, and no two numbers sum up this Euroleague night better.

Hapoel hit the ground running, outscoring the hosts 28-18 in the first quarter behind a burst of 13 straight points, and the gap peaked at 12. The second quarter went 17-17, so Zvezda sat ten down at the break. The response came in installments: 24-22 in the third, then a 21-14 fourth. Jordan Nwora's basket cut it to 72-80, Jared Butler's three made it 75-80, and two Semi Ojeleye free throws whittled it to 77-80. Tomas Satoransky answered from the line, 77-81. Butler struck again from deep for 80-81 — and that was the last score of the night.

Here is the paradox of the game. Zvezda crushed the boards and moved the ball better, yet lost.

They also won assists, 21-12. But Hapoel committed just six turnovers to 13, stole the ball seven times to two, and blocked five shots to two. Cleaner hands, colder blood.

Elijah Bryant carried the visitors with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in nearly 37 minutes. Vasilije Micic added 11 despite shooting 24 percent, and Zach LeDay chipped in 12 on 57 percent. For Zvezda, Nwora finished with 13, Tyson Carter scored 12 on 56 percent, and Butler's two late threes nearly flipped the whole evening on their own.

Zvezda won every battle that looked winnable. Hapoel won the only one that counts.