The Dynamic Duo That Dissected Maccabi and the Paint Presence Making Life Easy for Zvezda

Crvena Zvezda delivered arguably their finest performance of the EuroLeague campaign so far—or at the very least, their most dominant first half of the season.

The red-and-whites conceded just 30 points in the opening half to a high-powered Maccabi offense while pouring in 55 of their own, effectively putting the contest to bed inside the first 20 minutes.

From the opening tip, the hosts set the tone defensively, with Christian Koloko quickly demonstrating why he will be an immense addition. Backed by a relentless offensive flow, Ibon Navarro's men exploded for 34 points in a single quarter.

Maccabi had historically posed a serious threat to Zvezda, but this time the Belgrade side dominated proceedings from start to finish, cruising to a statement victory.

A cornerstone of the hosts' stifling defense—especially in the first half—was newly arrived center Christian Koloko.

The Cameroonian giant seemed to transform Zvezda's defense simply by occupying the paint, utilizing his staggering 7-foot-6 wingspan to instantly elevate the team's interior presence.

Koloko made an immediate impact at both ends of the floor, forcing Maccabi into heavily contested shots and disrupted possessions, which Navarro's squad converted into early, decisive leads.

He brings an entirely new dimension to Zvezda’s setup: elite rim protection, the lateral agility to switch onto opposing guards on the perimeter, and a constant lob threat offensively. The red-and-whites appear to have struck gold with his signing, as Koloko instantly inspired confidence among the fans—setting the bar high for performances to come.

Tyson Carter delivered his best outing in a Crvena Zvezda jersey and one of the finest games of his European career. The former Unicaja guard had endured a challenging period following health issues last season that affected his rhythm and confidence.

After searching for his ideal role, Carter looks to have found it over the past week. Building on a strong showing against Igokea, he tore Maccabi's perimeter defense apart. Carter set the tone early with 14 first-quarter points and four triples, finishing the night with a career-high 24 points on 6-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc.

Carter was not alone in dismantling the visitors. Jordan Nwora provided crucial support, while Jared Butler delivered what was arguably his best EuroLeague performance of the season.

Bouncing back from a tough final possession against Partizan in the previous round, Butler erupted with pure offensive flair, scoring 21 points in just 15 minutes on the floor.

This is precisely the spark Zvezda need from Butler. Armed with elite shot-creation and scoring punch, his emergence is a major boost for the team over the course of a demanding, grueling EuroLeague campaign.

VIDEO: Zvezda blow past Maccabi: "The energy carried us through"