Although the defeat itself was difficult, the impression left by the black and whites is even more worrying. It seemed that Monaco, even without constantly playing at the maximum level, had complete control over the match, and that the difference could have been much larger.
Partizan opened the match solidly in attack, scoring nine points in the first four minutes. However, Monaco responded in the same period with the same measure, and problems for the Belgrade team arose at the moment when the attack stopped, while the defense did not show any progress. The home team quickly made a 7:0 run, took a 16:10 lead and signaled the course of the game.
The black and whites tried to follow the rhythm with a three-point shot and on several occasions managed to respond to Monaco’s shots from outside. However, at the moment when the outside shot failed, Partizan’s offensive performance completely disappeared, while no defensive solution was found.
At the beginning of the second quarter, led by Nikola Mirotic, Monaco took a double-digit advantage (32:21). Nemanja Nedović’s brief flash, which tied five points, did not change the picture on the floor. Until the end of the first half, the home team certainly maintained a double-digit difference, which amounted to 17 points on two occasions. The break went to 54:39 for Monaco.
The beginning of the third part did not bring any changes either. Partizan seemed clueless, and Monaco continued to increase their lead up to a maximum of +21 (71:50). Then the guests finally showed signs of life, making a 10:0 run and reducing the deficit to 71:60. There was also a chance to get down to a single digit minus, but Kostas Sloukas Calathes (Kalates) didn’t use all the free throws.
Before the last quarter, Monaco led 74:63, but Partizan’s poor entry into the final period, with three minutes without scoring a basket, returned the game to its earlier course. The home team opened the last quarter with a 7:0 series and went to 81:63, which solved the question of the winner.
In such an outcome, the only bright spot for Partizan was the minutes that young Uroš Mijailović got. A new challenge awaits the black and whites already in the next round, again on the away field – on Friday at 20:30, Partizan will visit Barcelona, reports Sport Klub.
(Vijesti.ba)
