BELGRADE — Partizan defeated Crvena Zvezda 89-82 in EuroLeague Matchday 35, securing another victory in the Belgrade derby and seriously complicating their eternal rival's playoff and play-in aspirations. Carlik Jones led the way with 25 points under head coach Saša Obradović.
The game began with the intense atmosphere characteristic of the Belgrade derby in the EuroLeague, with both teams trading blows throughout a tightly contested first half. Crvena Zvezda found their offensive anchor in Codi Miller-McIntyre, who finished with 24 points and 9 assists, while Jasiel Rivero contributed 13 points and Jordan Nwora added 12 to keep the hosts in contention.
For Partizan, the offense relied on Carlik Jones from the start, leading the scoring with 25 points, supported by Sterling Brown, who scored 22 points, and the interior presence of Bruno Fernando, who added 13 points, plus Isaac Bonga's 12 points.
After an evenly matched first half, Partizan began to take control at the start of the fourth quarter. A series of three-pointers allowed the visiting team to open up a significant lead that reached 15 points (80-65) with four minutes remaining, seemingly putting the game out of reach.
However, Crvena Zvezda responded, driven by the talent of Codi Miller-McIntyre, who took over the offensive load and brought his team within three points. The home team even had possession to tighten the score further, but Jared Butler couldn't convert his shot in a tense final stretch.
Ultimately, Partizan secured the 89-82 victory over Crvena Zvezda in the EuroLeague, recording their second win of the season against their great rival in the competition.
This result leaves Crvena Zvezda with a record of 19-16, tied for ninth place in the EuroLeague standings and in the thick of the battle for a play-in spot. In the next matchday, they will host Paris Basketball in another crucial game for their aspirations.
For their part, Partizan, riding a six-game winning streak in the EuroLeague, improved to 15-20 and will face a demanding road trip in the next matchday to take on Anadolu Efes in Istanbul.