Zach LeDay and co. showed they can win even when the game isn't Partizan's preferred tempo.
Partizan kept 'proving things' in win at Valencia
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade did a lot of firsts in its 67-72 road win over Valencia Basket. To register its fifth consecutive win, Partizan won in a place it has not won before, against a team it never beat before, and in a type of game that suited the hosts.
Partizan held the opposition under 70 points for the third time this season - and the second time in three games, but entering this contest Partizan had not scored fewer than 82 points in a game. Also, in 54 EuroLeague games under Coach Zeljko Obradovic, this was the first time Partizan won a game in which it scored fewer than 73 points.
To win the low-scoring affair the way they did, Partizan's players needed to adapt. Not only going into the game, but also at halftime at which Valencia held a 34-33 lead.
"Yes, players did that", Obradovic confirmed. "The way to win was to play hard like Valencia played."
Partizan scored the first 6 points of the second half, claiming 3 steals in the first 2 minutes of the third quarter to take the lead which it never relinquished. The main figure was Zach LeDay, who was scoreless at halftime, and had 12 in the third quarter to finish tied for a team-high 14 points.
"My team needed me", LeDay said to EuroLeague TV after the win. "I had to make some adjustments to what I was doing in the first half."
He did, and his teammates did.
When all was said and done, Partizan finished the game with 12 steals. In the second half alone, the visitors forced 9 turnovers, picking up 8 steals. And no steal was bigger than James Nunnally's with 30 seconds to go.
It helped Partizan overcome Valencia's 42-32 rebounding advantage, including 17-8 on the offensive glass.
"We showed character in the second half", Obradovic pointed out.
Valencia entered the game allowing a league low 74.1 points and managed to keep the high-scoring Partizan below that average, but Partizan embraced the challenge and won the defensive battle.
"We proved we can win a low-scoring game, too", LeDay said. "We keep proving things every game, and keep learning things about ourselves."
Now, at 9-6 and with back-to-back road wins, Partizan heads to the Spanish capital to face league leader Real Madrid, the reigning champ which dramatically ousted Partizan in a memorable five-game playoff series last May.
Thursday will be a chance for Partizan to prove another thing or two.