Partizan Down Zvezda and Stay in the Race for the Top Spot

2025/26 AdmiralBet ABA League Top 8 Round 8, Sunday, 19 April 2026:

PARTIZAN MOZZART BET - Crvena zvezda Meridianbet 81:74 (24:18, 26:19, 14:21, 17:16)

PHOTO GALLERY

POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game recap: In this week’s NLB Match of the Round, Partizan Mozzart Bet defeated their arch rivals Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in the big Belgrade derby, keeping their hopes of finishing at the top of the standings alive.

The black-and-whites have now done their part of the job and will turn their eyes toward the final game of the Top 8 stage, where they need Dubai Basketball to stumble against Bosna BH Telecom in order to claim the No.1 spot. On the other side, Zvezda, who have already secured 3rd place, will look to quickly move on from this defeat as a major EuroLeague challenge awaits them already on Tuesday.

Key moments: Partizan Mozzart Bet entered the game with high intensity and quickly imposed their rhythm. They began building the lead already in the opening quarter, controlling both ends of the floor. By halftime, the hosts had created a solid cushion - 50:37.

Their dominance continued into the third period, when they extended the margin to a game-high 19 points (58:39), putting themselves in a commanding position.

However, Crvena zvezda Meridianbet showed character and refused to back down. The red-and-whites responded with a strong run, cutting the deficit to just 6 points by the end of the third quarter (64:58).

The momentum carried into the fourth quarter, where Zvezda came within just 2 points (64:62), threatening to complete a full comeback. Still, Partizan Mozzart Bet stayed composed in crucial moments, hitting big shots and regaining control to secure a valuable victory.

A crucial steal by Nick Calathes followed by an and-one finish from Bonga ignited the crowd at a key moment. Later on, Dylan Osetkowski knocked down a huge three-pointer in the fourth quarter - a shot that helped Partizan maintain their edge and seal the win.

Man of the match: When it mattered the most, Isaac Bonga delivered. The Partizan Mozzart Bet forward once again proved he thrives in big games, finishing the match with 17 points and 7 rebounds, leading his team on both ends of the floor.

Can’t trick the stats: In a tight and emotional derby, the details made the difference. And those details came late in the 4th. When both sides struggled to score, Partizan Mozzart Bet made some big buckets to stay in front and eventually win the match.