DUBAI (Interstat) — Crvena Zvezda will try to halt a rocky start when it visits Dubai on Thursday in a basketball matchup that pits a visiting side searching for consistency against a home team riding recent success.

Crvena Zvezda enters with a 1-3 record after a narrow 90-89 loss at FMP in its most recent game. Chris Jones paced the attack with 19 points, two rebounds and seven assists in 24 minutes. Jared Butler added 13 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Chima Moneke contributed six points and eight rebounds. The visitors opened with a 77-72 home win over Anadolu Efes before dropping home games to Hapoel Tel Aviv, 81-80, and Zalgiris, 83-77. Jones is the player to watch for Crvena Zvezda. He has been the team’s most reliable playmaker and scorer, and his ability to create for others will be important against Dubai’s defense. Crvena Zvezda will need stronger production around him after the latest one-point defeat.

Dubai enters with a 3-2 record and won its most recent game, 85-70 at Ilirija. Davion Mintz led the way with 20 points and three rebounds in 22 minutes. Kenan Kamenjas added 11 points and eight rebounds, while Tornike Shengelia had 11 points, two rebounds and four assists. Before that, Dubai lost 76-66 at Fenerbache Koleji and earned home wins over Barcelona, 94-87, and Real Madrid, 78-77. Dubai also dropped an overtime home game to Real Madrid, 98-95. Mintz is the player to watch for Dubai. He scored 20 points in the latest win after contributing three points, two rebounds and one assist in 11 minutes against Real Madrid. His scoring punch will be key for the home side.

Dubai has shown the ability to score at a high rate, especially at home, while Crvena Zvezda has struggled to close games. The visitors have lost three of four and will need to protect the ball and find secondary scoring. Dubai will look to use its home court and balanced attack to build an early advantage. The matchup features two teams with different records but similar urgency as the season moves forward. Crvena Zvezda will aim to keep the game close into the final minutes, while Dubai will try to pull away behind Mintz and its frontcourt. Crvena Zvezda has scored well at times, but defensive lapses and late-game execution have hurt the team during the opening stretch. Dubai has benefited from a deeper scoring attack and home-court comfort.

Interstat’s game simulator projects Dubai 93, Crvena Zvezda 85.