Partizan’s basketball players came back from minus 15, but in the final minute they faltered and lost to Real Madrid 77:73 in the 28th round of the EuroLeague.
“Arena” could not help but be full when Partizan’s great rival arrived. The Madrid team was welcomed by that old black-and-white atmosphere, but also by a depleted opponent, who at the last moment was left without Dylan Osetkowski due to suspension, so with eleven players they had to fight this battle. He was missing inside, Cameron Payne was missing on the outside, and it was immediately noticeable and made the job easier for the visitors’ defense.
After an even quarter, in which Nick Calathes did an excellent job both in scoring and organization, the host fell in the second. Two runs by the guests created a double-digit difference, and the team of Joan Peñarroya responded more strongly in the second part of the quarter, however, the inspired Trey Lyles, their problems with three-point shooting and the trouble that Real’s defense caused Dwayne Washington, whom they primarily wanted to stop, took their toll and the black-and-whites went into halftime with a ten-point deficit (33:43).
However, the first 20 minutes turned out to be only the initial measuring of strength, in which the visiting team was better; in the second half Partizan showed that it knows and can do better and, with a comeback, brought the match into a dramatic finish. When the burden of guarding Facundo Campazzo was lifted from his back, Brown found his offensive game. With two three-pointers he sparked the team, then Isaac Bonga did the same, followed by Aleksej Pokuševski once, and Partizan came back from minus 15 to minus one by the end of the quarter.
In the fourth quarter we watched an even and dramatic battle, in which Partizan’s players could potentially have taken control had they not burned out with the desire to do so and begun to rush and miss shots. A great fight, better shooting and excellent rebounding control by the black-and-whites brought back equality (62:63). However, that was when the hand tightened and Andrés Feliz decided the winner with a three-pointer in the final minute, that is, Real’s outstanding defense did. The host fought until the end, tried to change something with fouls, but it could not be done. Brown made a two-pointer, but Hezonja sealed the victory from the free-throw line.
Sterling Brown finished the match with 14 points, 12 of which he scored in the second half. Dwayne Washington had one point fewer, while Isaac Bonga had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Bruno Fernando had exactly the same statistics.
In the winning team, Trey Lyles stood out with 14 points, while Mario Hezonja also had as many points along with six rebounds.
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