Dinamo Zagreb 94–94 Zagreb will go down as one of the most breathless editions of the Zagreb city derby in recent memory, with the two local rivals finishing level in a Club Friendship league fixture that neither side deserved to lose. Played on 27 September 2026 with an 18:50 tip-off inside a packed Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall, the game delivered everything a derby is supposed to: sharp shooting, heavy physicality, a double-digit swing in the middle quarters and a frantic closing two minutes that ended with the scoreboard frozen at 94 apiece.

Match Overview

Under Club Friendship rules, regular-season games can end in a draw, and on this occasion the two benches exchanged handshakes rather than preparing for an extra period. For long stretches, though, it looked as if one team would pull clear. Dinamo Zagreb controlled the opening quarter with quick ball movement and early three-point shooting, while Zagreb answered after the first break with a defensive adjustment that turned the contest into a grind.

• First quarter: Dinamo Zagreb 24–22 Zagreb
• Second quarter: Dinamo Zagreb 21–26 Zagreb (half-time: 45–48)
• Third quarter: Dinamo Zagreb 23–20 Zagreb (three-quarter time: 68–68)
• Fourth quarter: Dinamo Zagreb 26–26 Zagreb (final: 94–94)

Half-time arrived with Zagreb three points in front, and by the end of the third the game was perfectly level at 68–68, setting up a final ten minutes in which neither defence was willing to bend for long.

Key Moments

The defining sequence came in the last ninety seconds. Dinamo Zagreb's point guard Josip Barišić knifed into the lane for a contested floater to level the score at 91–91, only for Zagreb's Marko Vidović to answer immediately with a corner three off a kick-out pass. Barišić responded with a three of his own from the top of the arc, and after Zagreb's Ante Kovačević split a pair of free throws to make it 94–94, Dinamo had one final possession. The last look — a fadeaway from the elbow — rimmed out as the horn sounded.

Tactical Story

Dinamo Zagreb came out in a high-tempo, five-out style, hunting early offence before Zagreb's half-court defence could set. The approach worked beautifully in the first eight minutes, with Filip Novak and Petar Jurić punishing close-outs from beyond the arc. Zagreb's coaching staff responded by switching screens one through four and daring Dinamo's big men to score over length, which slowed the pace and let Zagreb run in transition off long rebounds.

In the second half both teams leaned on their half-court sets. Dinamo went back to the pick-and-roll with Barišić and Novak, generating open corner looks, while Zagreb attacked the offensive glass through Domagoj Šarić, whose second-chance points kept the visitors within touching distance whenever Dinamo threatened a run.

Standout Performers

• Josip Barišić (Dinamo Zagreb): the engine of the offence, combining scoring in the paint with timely kick-outs in the clutch.
• Filip Novak (Dinamo Zagreb): the game's most reliable outside threat, drawing extra attention on nearly every possession in the fourth.
• Marko Vidović (Zagreb): fearless in the biggest moments, with the corner three that briefly put Zagreb ahead late.
• Domagoj Šarić (Zagreb): a relentless presence on the boards, converting second-chance opportunities into points.
• Nikola Babić (Dinamo Zagreb) and Karlo Vuković (Zagreb): the two backup guards changed tempo on both ends when the starters needed rest.

What the Draw Means

A single point apiece keeps both clubs in a crowded middle of the Club Friendship standings and underlines how evenly matched the Zagreb basketball scene is this season. For Dinamo Zagreb, the frustration will be the missed final shot after a strong fourth quarter; for Zagreb, the satisfaction comes from twice responding to runs with big baskets away from home. The return fixture later in the campaign now carries added weight, with the head-to-head record — and perhaps the tiebreaker — resting on it.

Looking Ahead

Both sides now turn to a congested stretch of the calendar, and the lessons from this derby are clear: Dinamo Zagreb must improve its defensive rebounding to protect late leads, while Zagreb will want to sharpen its free-throw shooting in closing situations. On this evidence, the rematch should be every bit as tight.