With Karlik Jones putting on a… leadership performance and its defense becoming increasingly effective as the game went on, Partizan defeated Armani Milan 92-76 in its EuroLeague opener.
The game unfolded differently in each of the four quarters. Partizan got off to a better start and ended the first quarter ahead 20-16, while in the second quarter they continued to control the game, heading into halftime with a 42-36 lead.
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Armani, however, didn’t let the game slip away. Giuseppe Poeta’s team rallied in the third quarter, scoring 22 points to Partizan’s 21 and entering the final quarter trailing by just 5, with the score at 63-58.
But that’s when the home team really exploded. Partizan did whatever it wanted in the fourth quarter, scoring 25 points while allowing just 12. Their defense stifled Armani, which struggled to find open shots and solutions against the Serbs’ pressure.
On the other side of the court, Karlik Jones was the player who gave Partizan the much-needed boost. The American guard finished the game with 20 points and 10 assists (tying his career high), shooting exceptionally well at 4-for-5 on two-pointers, 4-for-6 from three-point range, and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. He also added 4 rebounds and finished the game with a PIR of 33!
For Armani, Alec Peters led the scoring with 17 points, while Mario Gudurić also scored 17. However, in the fourth quarter, the Italians ran out of options, as Partizan stepped on the gas and, with a 25-12 run, pulled ahead 84-68, celebrating an impressive victory in their season opener.
*photo source: euroleaguebasketball.net
