Despite the absence of one All-EuroLeague guard, Maccabi was able to lean on another to beat Partizan.
Brown shined as Maccabi made light of Baldwin's absence
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 1 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv cruised to a 96-81 victory over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in their Turkish Airlines EuroLeague opener, putting behind the disappointment of a tough Game 5 loss to Monaco in last season’s playoffs. Partizan, which also lost its own tiebreaker to eventual champion Real Madrid after taking a 2-0 lead in the series, produced a sub-standard performance as its new-look squad showed it’s still very much a work in progress.
With the influential Wade Baldwin sidelined by a back injury, Maccabi needed its other key players to step up to the plate and they delivered with aplomb. Lorenzo Brown made a flying start and sent the hosts on their way with 13 first-quarter points, having netted all his 22 points in a lop-sided opening half.
Brown was also instrumental with 8 assists, as the home team dished out passes like Christmas confetti against a porous Partizan defense. Josh Nebo and Roman Sorkin reigned supreme in the paint against Partizan’s big men, having scored 14 points each while they limited their four opponents to a combined total of 23 points. Maccabi collected 15 offensive rebounds - 8 more than Partizan, whose playmaker Aleksa Avramovic was a lone beacon of light for the visitors with 24 points.
"It’s a great start for us, especially because we didn’t have Wade tonight," Maccabi head coach Oded Kattash told the post-game news conference. "Lorenzo pushed us in the opening few minutes into a good tempo as we had a great first half offensively. We stuck to the game plan and shared the ball. We have a lot of things to improve but I am very happy."
Game Videos
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/1dbd7a2b-309d-4eb2-aeb4-f385a10ecef6.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Real Madrid | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/5918722c-7382-462a-a0fa-aa3394e822aa.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bef2b3ac-c2c7-4a9e-8e4b-4b17ab93cd0a.jpg?crop=1306%3A735%3Anowe%3A1%3A38]()
Monster dunk by Koprivica! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/85f8975c-27b5-4297-98df-a5cb9e230c72.jpg?crop=4243%3A2386%3Anowe%3A0%3A14]()
On This Day: When Kevin Punter sent Partizan to the playoffs
- 00:39
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/03/aq1FCtuw70nji6NpCw4MUG5kvzRiex8j-1743716305491.jpg]()
Levi Randolph: 'This shows the character of our team'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/c4b532fc-d7f1-4e2a-9411-35bee2136916.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/2f100722-49f2-4f8a-91a6-6ee309d18b44.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/c599f37b-7bc4-4bbf-9bfa-9be2501df55f.jpg?crop=1248%3A702%3Anowe%3A51%3A52]()
Jones with a spectacular move! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c8ac5385-06a8-495c-970b-b69c2c187ada.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A94%3A121]()
Pokusevski with a sublime alley oop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d609197f-c83a-4032-ac31-e10863a4c457.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/37b92e58-4d46-406b-86c8-3957e76ef374.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:26
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3aabb40b-f1f2-4ba4-8690-79ad7925d9e3.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A100%3A67]()
Tyrique Jones with a hoodie dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1f3d67a8-c6c6-404c-a8d6-61dfa8967fdb.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A118%3A31]()
The Jones duo does it again! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ef5799c3-50b4-4c70-b294-33bf62ebb034.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:25
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/25/6VdKEX0Jlij632qIVRRLlNGnMuKpPCEs-1742943339484.jpg]()
Carlik Jones: 'It's been a tough three games for us'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fc094d7c-287c-442a-97e9-52ec4317f26c.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4f5dffc2-0d00-4116-9ea5-760ebab631a9.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A151%3A9]()
Davies charges away and dunks! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/434be5f2-482f-4257-89d2-1651d853a1f3.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A171%3A58]()
Tyrique Jones with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6d9f03b5-c304-4262-8080-8963e7998c99.jpg?crop=2408%3A1354%3Anowe%3A0%3A482]()
On This Day: When Dusan Kecman hit 7 threes in Game 1 of the playoffs
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1e29304b-abd7-4650-85b0-12746ef3a04f.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d200e3f1-d88e-4c1b-a32a-d39adb1a2a4e.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A126%3A24]()
A vicious windmill dunk by Jones! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:18
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/20/I0InDLESANSOQCTKX6xT5kJX1FrsbBvh-1742506746633.jpg]()
Rokas Jokubaitis: 'We play for pride and are doing an amazing job'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2c426c46-4a59-4d27-92e2-3af7d1149ca7.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bda621c7-25cc-4c27-8184-ef3296b1e99f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A68%3A83]()
Jimmy Clark we have take-off! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/tHqpRVU6VVs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EuroLeague 25 Moments: Maccabi and its magical run to the 2014 title
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/da330e08-bef3-44cf-a806-54f1d2366fef.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 29 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/13/f91Cubn6nMbhEupPtMyAJXe7HlcRSCtQ-1741903307623.jpg]()
Trevion Williams: 'We just want to keep our foot on the gas'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9e0b1340-2909-42b9-86d4-dccc40a67987.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-AS Monaco | RS Round 29 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1a1efabe-44e0-4250-a23d-86dcce4fac53.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A154%3A33]()
Williams dunks off a Clark dish! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c6f9898d-76c4-4898-a009-6d33b9908b21.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A51]()
Williams opens the game in style! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4231fb9f-dd15-43c5-b147-efc54e77da08.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 28 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:19
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/07/qaaFeGfBPoJGtETf34mEc8hqvHfnSOHu-1741389912495.jpg]()
Levi Randolph: 'It's a testament to the team and our character'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b689ab33-691c-4f5c-a802-32a68089b382.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 28 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e3313994-aad3-4e1c-8f16-27c1a0e247b7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A33%3A11]()
Clark does a steal & dunk play again! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:24
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f588be09-1100-4e04-b856-d4d7e396925b.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A33%3A29]()
Pokusevski with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e3313994-aad3-4e1c-8f16-27c1a0e247b7.jpg?crop=454%3A256%3Anowe%3A523%3A67]()
Clark from deep to beat the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:33
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/01/eIjaH2JWsYDkInPSg56AZbPhxhigF7z2-1740787851389.jpg]()
Carlik Jones: 'The team trusts me, the coaches trust me, the fans trust me...'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/08e757ad-6be1-4fae-9f0f-76231fca9cb9.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 27 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a352a734-e395-449f-a879-f06f8d074c65.jpg?crop=1308%3A735%3Anowe%3A21%3A41]()
Mike gets airborne! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cd2d17a3-af2f-4b62-9a57-bcb465abd7c9.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A97%3A71]()
Tyrique Jones on the alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:29
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/789a5a3c-286a-4bb5-901f-e9479034af64.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A88%3A49]()
Pokusevski rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:53
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/27/jH2zgcHe18aoJY8R1X1jBffbWiOL8wKe-1740697746416.jpg]()
Roman Sorkin: 'A lot of guys stepped up'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7e2b405e-507e-4a09-8f81-60748611aeff.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 27 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c6f9898d-76c4-4898-a009-6d33b9908b21.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A119%3A49]()
What a pass by Williams! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/efd01697-3c47-4752-b427-b0a1f4471a8d.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A4%3A228]()
Sorkin beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1d676b59-744d-48dc-ae71-0e096b42e7a8.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
EuroLeague & Friends returns with Rokas Jokubaitis as guest
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/0sXZYt8xU44/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U18 ALBA Berlin vs U18 FC Barcelona I Round 1 NextGen Ulm Qualifier Highlights
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/19241d10-486b-47f8-b443-36baaf7bae53.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 26 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:34
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/07/bsccm3aUO3BAcOoakMtxiDN7YlK5bSes-1738972445915.jpg]()
Tyrique Jones: 'The black-and-white always travel'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1f15c08a-4477-47ad-9d1b-421ce982eda4.jpg]()
AS Monaco-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 26 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Avramovic scored 16 points in the second quarter but coach Zeljko Obradovic left him on the bench in the opening 7 minutes of the third, when Partizan failed to take advantage of Maccabi slowing down on offense.
Former Denver Nuggets guard PJ Dozier was the only new arrival to make any impact for Partizan with 11 points, but the others just didn’t turn up as Mateusz Ponitka and Ognjen Jaramaz stayed scoreless while center Frank Kaminsky netted a mere 2 points.
The game was beyond Partizan’s reach after Maccabi pulled away into an 84-60 lead midway through the fourth quarter, sending the noisy home fans into raptures. The visitors slashed the deficit in the closing stages but it was too little too late after a tepid opening night performance.
"We allowed Maccabi to run and score easy points while we also failed to take care of their offensive rebounds," Obradovic said after the game. "We can only congratulate them on a very good performance."
