Dubai Basketball suffer first home defeat of season

On a tough night at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai Basketball went down 58-77 to Red Star Belgrade in EuroLeague Round 4.

The first quarter swung back and forth, with Dubai jumping out to a 9-2 lead thanks to a quick seven points from forward Dwayne Bacon.

The visitors fought back with their own 12-2 run to take an 11-14 lead before Dubai went on a 10-2 run (including six points from Shengelia) to wrestle back control and go into the first break up 21-16.

But from there it was Red Star's night. They opened the second quarter with a 13-2 burst, and a 14-2 streak either side of half time built a fourteen point cushion that Dubai were never able to fully overcome.

The home side were hanging on and still in the game with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, but frustrations got the better of the home team, gifting the Belgrade team a number of trips to the free throw line and allowing them to go on a 14-0 run that put the result beyond doubt.

Shengelia scored the last four points of the game to bring the margin under twenty, but this was still a night to forget for Dubai Basketball and their fans.

Dwayne Bacon top-scored for Dubai with 13 points, adding 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block.

Tornike Shengelia added 12 points and 4 rebounds. Jordan Nwora was the game's top scorer with 20 points and 6 rebounds, and his effort was supported by Semi Ojeleye with 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Dubai Basketball will now look to bounce back on the road against U-BT Cluj-Napoca in ABA League before resuming their EuroLeague campaign with games against Kosner Baskonia and EA7 Milano next week.