When Jamari Smith sank a three-pointer at the Belgrade Arena with 1 minute and 51 seconds remaining, Mornar managed to level the score against Partizan (81:81), coming close to pulling off an upset in the 24th round of the AdmiralBet ABA League.

However, in the final minute, the “black and whites” scored five points to take an 86:81 lead, thwarting the Barani’s chance to create what would have been the biggest surprise of the season, possibly the largest in recent years.

Partizan triumphed tonight with a score of 89:84, tying for first place with Buducnost (21-3), while Mornar remains in last place with just one victory.

This was a match where Barani had nothing to lose, while Željko Obradović’s team entered after a significant Euroleague loss to Efes, and they failed to impress this evening as well.

Mornar started strong with a 2:0 lead from Runjić, but Partizan quickly went up 7:2, and after Majka’s three-pointer, they extended their lead to double digits at 22:11.

Partizan couldn’t pull away fully, and Mihailo Pavićević’s side capitalized on this, coming close to 30:27 after a three-pointer by Pember. Partizan answered with six straight points (36:27), but Mornar managed to reduce the deficit to four, trailing 40:36 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Partizan led by nine points, but Mornar continually rallied. After Pember scored again, they trailed just 60:59 at the beginning of the final quarter.

Partizan briefly pulled ahead by seven points twice, but Srđa Bulatović sparked a comeback with two three-pointers, bringing Mornar to 74:72 with under five minutes remaining, with a chance to either tie or take the lead, which they squandered.

Four minutes before the end, Tomason hit a three-pointer to make it 76:75; Pokuševski responded (79:75), and then Bulatović sunk another three (79:78).

When Smith tied the game at 81:81, Mornar had a chance for a remarkable finish. However, Partizan scored five unanswered points to seal the win.

Mornar delivered their best performance of the season, shooting exceptionally well from beyond the arc (16/33), with Bulatović leading the way with 17 points (5/6 from three). Smith followed with 14 points, while Thomason and Pember each contributed 13.

Koprivica was the standout player for Partizan with 22 points.

PARTISAN – SAILOR 89:84 (26:18, 14:18, 20:18, 29:30)

Beograd – “Belgrade Arena”. Attendance: 2,247. Referees: Nikšić (BiH), Mustapić (Croatia), and Popović (Montenegro).

Partizan: DAVIS 2, LUNDBERG 13, K. Jones 3 (2-1), NILIKINA 14 (9-8), Washington, Koprivica 22 (10-8), Nakić 5 (3-3), Bošnjaković, MARINKOVIĆ 10, Pokuševski 9 (2-2), Lakić, MAJK 11.

Sailor: Spičanović, Kovačević, ROGIC 9, TOMASON 13 (1-1), RUNJIC 8, BULJEVIC 9 (2-1), SMIT 14 (3-3), Pember 13 (2-2), Komnenović, Bulatović 17, Peković 1 (2-1), Radetic.

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