By Stefan Acevski/ info@eurohoops.net
Partizan achieved a significant victory in the 35th round of the EuroLeague, as they defeated Crvena Zvezda in the Belgrade derby away with a score of 89-82.
Carlik Jones was the best in his team with 25 points, three more than Sterling Brown, while Bruno Fernando scored 13 and Isaac Bonga added 12.
On the other side, Codi Miller-McIntyre was by far the best with 24 points and nine assists, Jasiel Rivero had 13, and Jordan Nwora was also in double digits with 12.
For the second time this season, Partizan defeated their biggest rival in the EuroLeague, distancing them from a playoff or play-in spot. After a close first half, Partizan made a significant lead early in the fourth quarter with a series of three-pointers, seeming to head for an easier victory when they had a 15-point advantage (80-65) with four minutes left.
However, driven by Miller-McIntyre, who got into rhythm during those moments, Zvezda closed the gap to just three points and even had possession. Still, Jared Butler was not precise, and after a tense finish, the black-and-whites celebrated the victory.
Crvena Zvezda is now tied for ninth place with a record of 19-16 and faces a battle for a Play-In spot. In the next round, they will host Paris. On the other hand, Partizan has now won six consecutive EuroLeague games and stands at 15 wins and 20 losses. The next round brings them a matchup with Anadolu Efes in Istanbul.