By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Partizan hosted Fenerbahçe without Jabari Parker and captain Vanja Marinković, who dropped out at the last minute, but after four loses in the last five games, fans at the Serbian capital hoped for a reaction.
However, defending champions opened the game with a 17–2 run, taking control early and eventually cruising to a commanding 99-87 victory in Belgrade.
Fenerbahçe’s balanced performance made the difference in Belgrade. Mikael Jantunen set a career-high with 19 points, Wade Baldwin came close to a double-double with 15 and eight assists, while Tarik Biberović and Bonzie Colson added 14 and 12. The champions controlled the rhythm most of the night and consistently found answers whenever Partizan threatened.
Sterling Brown tried to keep Partizan in it, finishing with 27 points and one of his strongest outings this season. Tyrique Jones added 18, with Milton at 13 and Washington at 11 — though he scored just two before halftime.
Partizan struggled early, scoring their first points nearly six minutes in, while Fenerbahçe opened with a 14–0 run and built a 24–11 lead after the first quarter. The hosts briefly cut the margin to single digits in the second period, but foul trouble and well-timed Fenerbahçe threes re-established a safe lead, sending the visitors into halftime up 56–39.
Partizan’s best push came in the third quarter, when Duane Washington, Tyrique Jones and Sterling Brown brought the gap down to six and lifted the Arena. But each time the hosts threatened, Fenerbahçe answered — including key threes from Baldwin, Biberović and later Melli. Despite several late efforts, Partizan couldn’t complete the comeback, and Fenerbahçe held on to take the win in Belgrade.