Partizan NIS win the battle against Crvena zvezda mts

ABA League Round 7, Sunday, 17.11.2019:

PARTIZAN NIS - Crvena zvezda mts 75:72 (26:19, 17:18, 13:18, 19:17)

PHOTO GALLERY

POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game recap: After more than two hours of a big basketball battle in Štark Arena, Partizan NIS defeated Crvena zvezda in the first Belgrade derby of the season. Partizan NIS have been in front throughout most of the match, they even had a 14-point lead in the first half, however Crvena zvezda mts managed to get back in this game and to force a thrilling ending.

Still, the red & whites made some major mistakes in the final minute and the black & white side grabbed the precious win.

Key moments: As we wrote above, Crvena zvezda mts managed to get back from a 14-point deficit, while they were down by just 1 point on 30 seconds before the end of the match – 73:72. One of the their best players this evening Filip Čović wanted to be the hero of day, he pulled up for a 3-pointer... But he missed the shot! On the other end of the court, while attempting to stop Partizan NIS fast break, Čović made a flagrant foul on Marcus Paige, who made both free throws and increased the lead of the home team to 75:72.

Still, that was not the end of this dramatic game. Partizan NIS made a turnover on 3 seconds before the end and gave the last chance to Crvena zvezda mts to force overtime. However, after a time-out, the red & whites made a turnover and that was the end of their hopes that they might take the win tonight.

Man of the match: That would be Partizan NIS point guard Nemanja Gordić. He made 12 points in this match, but what is important to mention is that he scored 8 out of those 12 points in the 4th quarter.  

Can’t trick the stats: Turnovers. Both teams made a lot of them, but Crvena zvezda mts made more. The visitors made 19 turnovers, which is just way too many for such an important game.