The Black and Whites, in the Round 2 match on their home court, defeated Armani Milan 80:78 (21:19, 24:14, 23:29, 11:16).
Partizan’s basketball players secured their first EuroLeague victory of the new season.
The Black and Whites managed to quickly forget the defeat in Dubai in the first round. Sterling Brown played as if in a trance, and the home team built a 20-point lead. However, Armani found a way to bring the game into a tense finish, where the Black and Whites managed better and clinched an important triumph.
Partizan entered the Round 2 EuroLeague clash with a clear intention to return to the winning track in front of their home fans. From the very first minutes in “Štark Arena,” an extremely combative and fast-paced basketball game was on display.
Partizan controlled the tempo of the game from the start thanks to strong defense and quick transitions. Sterling Brown immediately shone with a shot off the dribble, and with early three-pointers, he lifted the energy of the team and the fans. Soon, the in-form Carlik Jones and Jabari Parker joined him.
Armani Milan, however, quickly responded. Shields led the Italians, scoring from all positions, and with Brooks and Leday, kept Milan in the game.
If the first quarter was a basket-for-basket battle, Partizan first reached a double-digit lead late in the second period thanks to Sterling Brown’s threes and Jabari Parker’s points. By halftime, the Black and Whites managed to combine several key defensive stops with precise offensive plays and went to the break with a +12 lead (45:33).
In the second half, Partizan started powerfully, and after points from Sterling Brown and Jabari Parker, they quickly took a +20 lead, 53:33. It seemed the game was decided, but Ettore Messina’s players slowly chipped away at the home side’s advantage. By the end of the third quarter, they closed the gap to 69:62.
In the final stretch, a big battle unfolded. Still, the Black and Whites managed to withstand another surge from the visitors. After Shields hit a three-pointer from eight meters, Dylan Osetkowski answered in kind. Then, Marko Gudurić hit a long-range three-pointer. With four minutes left, Olimpia cut the deficit to -5, 78:73, and Jabari Parker lost the ball.
Then, Gudurić missed, the Black and Whites defended, and Tyrique Jones committed an offensive foul, his fifth, and exited the game. Next, Bolmaro drew a tough foul but made only one of two free throws. Partizan failed to convert the following possession, and Gudurić added more points. With less than a minute remaining, Carlik Jones missed a crucial possession at the very end, and Gudurić had a chance to win it for his team but failed to score. Game over!
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Source: , Foto: Dusan Milenkovic / ATAImages