By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Pushed by the crowd of Stark Arena, Partizan Mozzart Bet retained the lead across the meeting versus Baskonia on Tuesday.
Failing to hold on to a double-digit advantage for a long stretch, the team coached by Zeljko Obradovic drew a win, 87-83, in Round 30 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.
Relentless Markus Howard reduced the lasting deficit to two points with 38.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. An immediate response with P.J. Dozier sinking a midrange floater restored a two-possession distance with 18.4 seconds on the clock.
Coming in tied at the bottom end of the Play-In zone, Partizan snapped a two-game losing streak and jumped to 14-16 in Europe’s premier club continental competition. Frank Kaminsky III and Bruno Caboclo combined for 38 points, and Kevin Punter dropped seven of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.
“I have been working hard. Finally, I was able to play a very good game and help Partizan win,” said 28-year-old Caboclo after pairing 18 points and 13 rebounds in his first double-double in the EuroLeague. He added two blocks marching to a game-high performance index rating of 28.
Producing a team-high 20 points, Kaminsky focused on missing teammate Zach LeDay (personal). “There is a huge hole in our team without Zach being here. I know Kevin is our captain, but Zach is like an emotional leader for us,” said the 30-year-old center, “We had to step up and fill that role, provide some of the energy that Zach always brings every single game.”
“Leading by eight points, we did not make it easy for us,” Obradovic referred to nearly mishandling a seemingly safe lead in the final minute before securing an 11th win over 14 home showings in the 2023-24 installment of the EuroLeague, “They trapped the ball. We made two turnovers. Finally, the last offense was correct. Luck this time was on our side.”
The team guided by Dusko Ivanovic was forced down to 15-14 after prevailing in four consecutive outings between the EuroLeague and Spain’s Liga Endesa. Besides losing control of the winning streak in Serbia, Tadas Sedekerskis struggled with pain in his left knee before ending up with six points, five rebounds, and one steal.
Howard finished with 26 points behind 10/22 field goals, including four triples. Facing his former team, the league leader in assists Codi Miller-McIntyre dished out a game-high six dimes but was held to four points over 26 minutes. Khalifa Diop (left wrist surgery) stayed on the injury list.
“We played without patience. We made many mistakes in defense, especially in the pick and roll, but we stayed in the game. We did not play with patience in some moments in offense. But it is OK,” recapped Ivanovic with his side three games safe inside the Play-In zone before tipoff.
Double-game week action
From Belgrade to Kaunas, the team based in Vitoria-Gasteiz completes the last two-game week of the Regular Season battling the reigning league and cup champions of Lithuania, Zalgiris on Thursday. On Sunday, visiting Surne Bilbao makes an opportunity to jump to 15-11 in Liga Endesa.
Real Madrid is the next team to visit Partizan in Stark Arena on Thursday. The AdmiralBet ABA League champions are set to take on SC Derby in Montenegro, looking to improve to 18-6 at the regional level on Sunday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net