Partizan shocked Group A leaders Fenerbahce 79-77 in Istanbul to keep its hopes of a Euroleague Top 16 place alive.
The win moves the Serbian giants to 3-6, while Fenerbahce, who have already qualified for the Top 16 drop to 7-2. They are however in sole possession of top spot in the group.
Terrence Kinsey led Partizan with 20 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 19 including five three-pointers.
“It was a very important game which we needed to win to stay alive for the next stage,” Bogdanovic said. “I think we played our best game of the season. We shot very well with great motivation. It feels perfect to beat a team like Fenerbahce Ulker.”
Emir Preldzic led Fenerbahce with 21 points.
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In a clash of the Euroleague giants CSKA Moscow pulled off a deserved 79-65 victory over Barcelona in the Russian capital.
Sonny Weems led CSKA with 15 points as a 9-0 run by the Russian champions in the dying stages of the third quarter gave them a 59-52 lead and they never looked back.
On his Euroleague debut for Barca, Brad Oleson led with 14 as both teams are now at 6-3 and both through.
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Zalgiris nearly let a double-digit lead slip but did just enough to beat Anadolu Efes 65-63 in Kaunas to stay alive in the hunt for a Top 16 spot in Group B.
Justin Dentmon led Zalgiris with 23 points as the Lithuanian side led 62-52 heading into the final period but could only manage three points in the entire fourth quarter. Fortunately for them and their fans inside the Zalgirio Arena, the team in green hung on.
“The fans gave us an extra energy. In the fourth quarter Efes played very well, and we defended hard,” Dentmon said. “Although I played a good game, I do not think that this is just my win, it’s the whole team’s victory.”
Semih Erden led Anadolu with 14.
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In a Group D game with no other meaning but pride, Top 16 bound Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv got the better of eliminated Lietuvos Rytas 78-71 at the Nokia Arena.
Former Lietuvos Rytas guard Tyrese Rice led Maccabi with 14 points, along with Devin Smith and Ricky Hickman.
Zabian Dowdell led the visitors with 16 points as the already eliminated Vilnius side lose their first game since the sacking of Dirk Bauermann.
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The other eliminated team from Group D Red Star Belgrade put on a show on their way to beating Laboral Kutxa 85-61.
A 25-6 first quarter set the tone of the remainder of the game as the visitors from Spain were never able to find their rhythm at both ends.
Slovenian Jaka Blazic led Red Star with 24 points.
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In the lone Group C clash, Olympiacos went 9-0 with a 78-73 win at home to Montepaschi Siena.
The Italian side though can count themselves unlucky as they led for the majority of the game only for a 12-1 run during the fourth quarter from the reigning Euroleague champions to settle the tie.
The loss damages Siena’s chances of a Top 16 spot as they drop to 3-6.
Stratos Perperoglou paced the winners with 18 points.
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