Dubai Basketball shined in OT and forced a Game 3 against Partizan Mozzart Bet

AdmiralBet ABA League Semi-finals Round 2, Thursday, 29 May 2025:

DUBAI BASKETBALL - Partizan Mozzart Bet 100:95

PHOTO GALLERY
POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game recap: Dubai Basketball defeated Partizan Mozzart Bet 100–95 in an intense overtime battle to even the semi-final series at 1–1, setting up a decisive Game 3 this Sunday in Belgrade.

After winning Game 1, Partizan Mozzart Bet had a chance to close out the series, but stumbled in Game 2 on the road. Partizan Mozzart Bet, ultimately paying the price against a determined Dubai Basketball squad that has quickly proven itself a worthy addition to the league. The match was a rollercoaster from the start. While Partizan Mozzart Bet briefly led in the opening minutes, Dubai Basketball finished the first quarter strong, taking a 29–23 lead thanks to excellent three-point shooting, hitting 6 of their first 10 attempts. Klemen Prepelič and Nate Mason each contributed two triples in the early surge. Despite struggling from deep, Partizan Mozzart Bet stayed competitive behind the efforts of Duane Washington and especially Frank Ntilikina, who hit three three-pointers without a miss in the second quarter. By halftime, Dubai Basketball clung to a narrow 50–47 advantage, maintained by Davis Bertans, who sank three key threes, including one at the buzzer. Despite leading by six points with five minutes left and by four points with 90 seconds remaining in regulation, Partizan Mozzart Bet failed to close the game. Dubai Basketball clawed back, managing to tie the game late and force overtime after Carlik Jones missed a potential game-winner. In the extra five minutes, Dubai Basketball seized control early and never looked back.

Key moments: In the final 2 minutes of OT, Dubai Basketball managed to pull away with the lead with terrific play on both ends of the court. Entering the final 2 minutes of OT, Partizan Mozzart Bet held a minimal 1-point 87:88 advantage, the tables turned when Davis Bertans hit a shot from deep to give Dubai a 90:88 advantage. On the defensive end they managed to leave Partizan Mozzart Bet scoreless in consecutive possesions, during the second stop they managed to get a steal and Klemen Prepelič scored in transition to take Dubai's advantage to 92:88. 

Man of the Match: Klemen Prepelič delivered a standout performance in Dubai Basketball’s 100–95 overtime victory against Partizan Mozzart Bet in Game 2 of the ABA League semi-final series. He finished with 30 points, emerging as a constant offensive threat and one of the key reasons Dubai Basketball was able to even the series. Prepelič hit 5 shots from three, pulled down 3 rebounds and got 2 steals.

Can't trick the stats: Despite stuggling scoring the ball inside the arc, Dubai Basketball managed to get to the free-throw line tonight. Not only did they get to the line they shot an efficient 81% from the line and hit 35 of the their shots from the charity stripe. Partizan Mozzart Bet didn't get to the line as much tonight, they shot 79% from the line, hitting 23 shots at the stripe.