Buducnost and Crvena Zvezda delivered an unforgettable Game 3 in the ABA League semifinal series, culminating in a dramatic victory for Buducnost. The match, held at the "Moraca" arena, saw Buducnost clinch an 81-78 win in the dying seconds, securing their place in the ABA League final where they will face Partizan.

The game was set against a backdrop of differing team fortunes. Crvena Zvezda was significantly hampered, playing without the injured Dejan Davidovac and Joel Bolomboy, and the suspended Milos Teodosic and Nikola Kalinic. In contrast, Buducnost entered the contest at full strength, ready to battle in front of an electric, albeit half-full, home crowd.

The first quarter began with Buducnost asserting dominance. Sparked by a motivated McKinley Wright, the hosts implemented intense full-court pressure, racing to an 11-3 lead and prompting an early timeout from Crvena Zvezda's coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos. The timeout proved effective, as Crvena Zvezda mounted a response led by Nemanja Nedovic. Improved defense and transition offense, spearheaded by an inspired Yago dos Santos, allowed the visitors to turn the game around, ending the quarter with a 25-22 lead after Buducnost's coach Andrej Zakelj received a technical foul.

The second quarter saw Yago dos Santos continue to trouble the Buducnost defense, while John Brown made key defensive plays for Crvena Zvezda. The visitors extended their lead to 35-27. However, the re-entry of McKinley Wright dramatically shifted the momentum. The ABA League MVP relentlessly attacked the basket, scoring through several and-one plays and single-handedly bringing Buducnost back into contention. Despite Buducnost seizing the initiative, a step-back three-pointer from Nedovic at the buzzer gave Crvena Zvezda a narrow 44-43 advantage at halftime.

In the third quarter, Buducnost's offense found a new spark with Yogi Ferrell becoming more involved. Crvena Zvezda countered with Filip Petrusev stepping up. With key players like Rasheed Sulaimon for Buducnost and Codi Miller-McIntyre for Crvena Zvezda struggling to make an impact, both offenses found it difficult to gain separation. The quarter concluded with Buducnost holding a slight 63-60 lead.

The final quarter was a tense, back-and-forth affair. Sulaimon eventually found his scoring touch, but Crvena Zvezda effectively utilized Petrusev under the basket. Both teams endured stretches of poor offensive execution and crucial mistakes, particularly from Crvena Zvezda. With three minutes remaining, Isaiah Canaan, brought in by Sfairopoulos, hit a vital three-pointer to cut Buducnost's lead to two. Nervousness affected Buducnost, who missed several long-range attempts, which Ognjen Dobric capitalized on with a three-pointer to give Crvena Zvezda the lead, forcing a timeout from Zakelj.

The drama intensified in the final minute. Buducnost scored immediately after their timeout to retake the lead. A turnover by Wright gave Zvezda a chance, but Canaan then committed a turnover himself. With 25 seconds left, Wright was fouled and made one of two free throws, putting Buducnost ahead 78-76. Sfairopoulos called a timeout for Crvena Zvezda. Their final play initially looked disorganized, with both Nedovic and Petrusev passing up shot opportunities. However, seven seconds before the end, Filip Petrusev, after being double-teamed, managed to pass the ball to Ognjen Dobric, who scored a layup from under the basket to tie the game at 78-78. Buducnost then called their final timeout. The responsibility for the last shot fell to McKinley Wright. In a stunning conclusion, Wright drove towards the basket and launched a three-pointer over two defenders as the buzzer sounded, sinking the shot to seal an 81-78 victory and send Buducnost to the ABA League final.

McKinley Wright was the standout performer for Buducnost, leading all scorers with 28 points, supported by Yogi Ferrell with 10 points. For Crvena Zvezda, Yago dos Santos scored 16 points, and Nemanja Nedovic contributed 14 points.

The input texts also noted other basketball-related news, such as the "Basketball Sphere RADAR: Potential EuroLeague transfers" feature, the EuroLeague's expansion to 20 teams for the upcoming season, and the fact that both Crvena Zvezda and Partizan have secured three-year EuroLeague licenses valued at €750K per season. Additionally, various top betting offers for 2025 were mentioned.