By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Partizan Belgrade was on the brink of losing its final game of 2024 but made a 7:1 run in the last minute to defeat Cedevita Olimpija at the Belgrade Arena 78-76.
Zeljko Obradovic’s team trailed 71-75 with 41 seconds left. Duane Washington then scored two free throws. On the other end, Aleksej Nikolić went 1-for-2 from the line, and Carlik Jones tied the game to 76-76 with 20 seconds remaining.
Sterling Brown then made a steal, passed the ball to Isaac Bonga, who assisted Washington in transition, and the American guard scored the go-ahead points with eight seconds on the clock. Bryton Lemar and Aleksej Nikolić had chances to win the game for the visitors but missed two three-pointers in the final moments.
Washington led the scoring with 18 points as Partizan improved to 12-2 in the ABA League. Carlik Jones added 15, Sterling Brown scored 13, and Isaiah Mike contributed 10 points.
On the other side, Bryton Lemar had 24 points, Nikolić followed with 14, while Jaka Blažič finished the match with 11 points.
ABA League Round 14:
Dubai – Igokea 92-81
Zadar – Spartak Subotica 76-66
Split – Mornar 87-73
Cibona – Borac 62-89
Studentski centar – Mega 77-82
FMP – Buducnost 88-91
Krka – Crvena Zvezda 67-79
Partizan – Cedevita Olimpija 78-76
Standings: Partizan 12-2, Buducnost 12-2, Crvena Zvezda 12-2, Dubai 11-3…