Red Star opened their ABA League semifinal series with a loss to Partizan. Partizan celebrated the result of 100:94 (25:19, 27:27, 26:13, 22:35) in front of their fans at the Beograd Arena, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

The third quarter proved to be a pivotal period in the derby, where Red Star struggled significantly. The team led by Sasha Obradović will need to respond strongly in the next game to stay in contention for the regional championship finals.

After the match, American guard Jared Butler openly discussed the issues the team faced, as well as his own responsibility for the loss.

"Both teams played well offensively, but they managed to score a series in the third quarter. A large part of that was my fault because I had problems with fouls, two lost balls, and several consecutive missed shots. However, we continued to play and fight, and I think we played our game towards the end. But we need to play for all 40 minutes to secure a win," Butler told Meridian Sport.

Partizan created a decisive gap in the third quarter, and Red Star only managed to close the gap in the final stretch, but not enough to reverse the outcome.

"I don't know why, but they had what we were looking for in the third quarter, which is frustrating. But the good thing is that we have another game tomorrow," Butler added.

Partizan won their fourth derby of the season, but Butler subtly hinted at a comeback.

"It’s just a bummer… but we will probably play against them a few more times this season, so we’ll have a chance to retaliate."

Butler emphasized that Red Star has the quality to come back from significant deficits, but it should not become a habit.

"It’s clear that we can come back from a 20-point deficit. This shows that we have a rhythm and style of play that can win a game. But we need to find it earlier and play that way for all 40 minutes."

Partizan leads the series, but the next duel offers Red Star a new opportunity to even the score and bring the semifinals to an equal footing.