Partizan outplayed Buducnost by 78:67, taking a 1-0 lead in the ABA League playoffs semifinal.
Right from the start, the black-and-whites aimed to burden Yogi Ferrell in the attack and capitalize on low post scoring. While they succeeded, Ferrell remained productive for Buducnost, keeping them in the game. Once he left the court, Partizan gained more space, leading to open shots and allowing them to finish the opening quarter with an 11-point lead, led by Frank Kaminsky’s scoring.
The second quarter was relatively inefficient. With two and a half minutes left until halftime, the score was only 9:7 for Buducnost. Despite the defending champions’ sluggish play, the guests failed to capitalize, struggling to score. The momentum shifted with Fletcher Mcgee’s entrance, but not enough for a significant comeback. The halftime buzzer found Zeljko Obradovic’s squad much more satisfied, as they woke up and extended their lead to 12 points.
Partizan cruises to win
Things started looking up for the home team. They spread the floor brilliantly from the pick and pop, with Jaleen Smith continuing his fine form from previous games, followed by Kevin Punter’s contribution. Gradually, Partizan built a commanding lead of 18 points, leaving Buducnost struggling. However, the visiting team capitalized on a slight dip in their opponent’s performance, reducing the deficit to just 10 points heading into the final 10 minutes.
James Nunnally’s three-pointer at the end of the third quarter helped the black-and-whites maintain their lead heading into the fourth quarter. However, there were some tense moments towards the end. Despite Partizan feeling confident about the win, Ferrell hit two consecutive three-pointers, narrowing the gap to just four points with minutes remaining. It was a nerve-wracking moment for Obradovic’s team, but Punter was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all his free throws, leaving Budućnost with neither the energy nor the time to stage a comeback.
The top scorers for the winners were Zach Leday with 15 points and Kaminsky with 13. Yoan Makoundou led the guests with 14 points.
The next game of the series is scheduled for May 7th in Podgorica.