By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Trailing most of the way, Partizan Mozzart Bet gained control in crunch time to escape with a narrow win, 81-79, against SC Derby and tie the AdmiralBet ABA League Quarterfinals best-of-three series 1-1 Thursday.
Dominating crunch time with eight points over the last three minutes, James Nunnally ended up with 23 points, a new individual high for the 2022-23 campaign. Dante Exum contributed a game-high 24 points, including seven in the back-and-forth last ten minutes of Game 2. Mathias Lessort chipped in five points, eight rebounds, six steals, two assists, and one block.
Limited to three points and four minutes on the court, Yam Madar did not return after picking up an injury in the third quarter. Tristan Vukcevic alongside injured Aleksa Avramovic (hand) has not been available for head coach Zeljko Obradovic through the best-of-three series of the ABA Playoffs. Game 3, deciding the team advancing to the next round, will take place in Stark Arena Monday.
The team based in Podgorica, participating in the top-tier division of ABA for the first time in team history, previously stunned Partizan in Belgrade. Fletcher Magee packing 15 points, Zvonimir Ivisic with 12 points, and Nikola Pavlicevic finishing with 11 points were not enough for a second straight win.
Elsewhere in the postseason of the regional league, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet and Buducnost VOLI have engaged in a Semifinals battle with the team located in Belgrade up 1-0 in the best-of-three series. Game 2 follows Tuesday.
Photo Credit: ABA-liga.com