By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was a hard-fought game, more than physical and ugly at times.
In the end, Zalgiris managed to beat Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (70-66), taking away their last hopes for the 10th spot in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings.
Sylvain Francisco, with 15 points despite 1/9 threes, decided the game, and Alen Smailagic scored 14 against his former team, sealing the deal in the closing seconds.
“Of course, I feel bad about it, but I play for my team, for the colours I wear. I love Partizan; everyone knows that, even if they won, it would be a win-win for me”, said Smailagic after the final buzzer.
Carlick Jones, with 23 points, tried his best for Partizan, which was not enough.
Zalgiris now had a 15-18 record and remained 13th, while Partizan dropped to the 12th spot with a 16-17 record.
Decided on details
After a balanced first period, Zalgiris led 24-21, with Francisco scoring at the buzzer. The game was already a dog fight and in the second quarter was even more fierce with Partizan getting a 40-35 halftime lead.
Neither team scored from the field for the last three minutes of the second period, with Carlik Jones scoring 16 points in 19 minutes of action.
Things changed in the third period, with the hosts starting with an 8-0 run, taking the 43-40 lead. Aleksej Pokusevski, with five straight points, gave Partizan the advantage again (45-43), and the two teams entered the last quarter tied at 49.
Entering the last two minutes, and after 11 lead changes, Zalgiris got a 66-62 lead thanks to the first three of Francisco on the game after missing six attempts.
Carlik Jones made it a two-point game (66-64) with 64 seconds left. Alen Smailagic lost the ball in the next possession for Zalgiris, and Carlik Jones also couldn’t keep it inbound with 37 seconds on the clock.
With the game on the line, Ignas Brazdeikis missed, but Zalgiris kept the ball, and Francisco made it a four-point game again (68-64), just 12 seconds before the final buzzer.
Isaac Bonga was fouled, made two free throws (68-66), however, Smailagic scored again, and the game was over.
Photo credit: EuroLeague