Real Madrid's Dzanan Musa (R) vies with Partizan's Yam Madar during a quarterfinal of Euroleague basketball match between Partizan and Real Madrid in Belgrade, Serbia, May 4, 2023. (Photo by Predra Milosavljevic/Xinhua)
BELGRADE, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Partizan lost to Real Madrid 85-78 in the fourth game of the Top-8 phase of the Euroleague here on Thursday, turning all expectations toward the final game to be held in Madrid next week.
After winning the first two games in Spain, the Serbian team lost both games at their home court in Belgrade, mostly due to low shooting precision and poor execution of free throws.
From the start of Thursday's game at the crowded Belgrade Arena, Real built a 12-point advantage thanks to their fast counterattacks, mistakes by Partizan, and the scoring of Adam Hanga and Dzanan Musa.
However, owing to dominance in rebounds, the home team leveled up the score at 42-42 by the end of the second quarter.
Guests entered the second half with a 3-point lead and held onto it throughout the defensive third quarter, undermining the aggressive efforts of the home team to surprise them and coming out as winners from the uncertain finish of the game.
Hanga and Walter Tawares with 15 points each shined in the Spanish team, followed by Gabriel Deck and Musa, with 14 points each.
Zach LeDay (25) and Ioannis Papapetrou (18) were the top scorers in the ranks of Partizan.
In the previous game in Belgrade, Partizan lost 80-82, although it was dominating over Real Madrid for most of the game.
The two teams will play the decisive game of the Top 8 phase of the Euroleague on May 9 in Madrid, which will decide the participant in the semifinals of the competition.
The match started with a minute of silence for the victims of Wednesday's shooting at an elementary school in Belgrade, where eight kids and a security guard lost their lives.
Players of Partizan wore the name of the school "Vladislav Ribnikar," where the incident took place, printed on the front side of their shirts. ■
Partizan's head coach Zeljko Obradovic reacts during a quarterfinal of Euroleague basketball match between Partizan and Real Madrid in Belgrade, Serbia, May 4, 2023. (Photo by Predra Milosavljevic/Xinhua)
Partizan's Mathias Lessort (R) vies with Real Madrid's Mario Hezonja during a quarterfinal of Euroleague basketball match between Partizan and Real Madrid in Belgrade, Serbia, May 4, 2023. (Photo by Predra Milosavljevic/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Walter Tavares (R) celebrates during a quarterfinal of Euroleague basketball match between Partizan and Real Madrid in Belgrade, Serbia, May 4, 2023. (Photo by Predra Milosavljevic/Xinhua)
Partizan's Zach LeDay (R) shoots during a quarterfinal of Euroleague basketball match between Partizan and Real Madrid in Belgrade, Serbia, May 4, 2023. (Photo by Predra Milosavljevic/Xinhua)
