Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv delivered its most dominant performance of the season on Friday, overwhelming Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 112-87 at Belgrade Arena in a EuroLeague matchup that quickly spiraled after the opening quarter.
The visitors erased an early 11-point deficit and led by as many as 36 points in the fourth quarter, spoiling the head coaching debut of Joan Penarroya and extending their winning streak to five straight games.
Partizan surged out to a 31-30 first-quarter edge behind a fast-paced offense, but the game turned decisively in the second period as Maccabi seized control on both ends of the floor.
The Israeli side outscored the hosts 28-12 in the second quarter, shooting efficiently inside the arc and limiting transition chances, to take a 58-43 lead into halftime.
Maccabi continued to pile on after the break, opening the third quarter with sustained defensive pressure and crisp ball movement that pushed the margin into double digits within minutes.
Lonnie Walker IV led all scorers with 20 points, 13 of which came in a decisive third quarter that ended any realistic comeback hopes for the Serbian club.
Roman Sorkin added 17 points and six rebounds, consistently punishing switches in the paint, while TJ Leaf chipped in 14 points and six boards.
O’Shae Brissett contributed 11 points, and Maccabi finished with five players in double figures while posting season highs in points scored and first-half production.
The visitors shot 73.7 percent on two-point attempts and finished with 45 rebounds and 29 assists, highlighting a balanced offensive attack and physical control of the glass.
For Partizan, new signing Cam Payne made an immediate impression early, scoring 12 of his 15 points in the opening quarter in his debut after signing earlier this week.
Sterling Brown added 12 points, but the home side struggled to generate consistent stops as the game wore on.
Partizan conceded 112 points, the most in club EuroLeague history, surpassing the negative mark set just one round earlier in a heavy loss at Zalgiris Kaunas.
The defeat dropped the Belgrade side to 6-12, while Maccabi improved to 8-10 and strengthened its push up the standings.
Partizan next visits Valencia Basket on Tuesday, while Maccabi travels to Germany to face FC Bayern Munich on Friday.
