Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade continued its strong start to the EuroLeague season with a 92-79 road victory over Paris Basketball on Tuesday, as Carlik Jones once again led the way with a game-high 20 points at Adidas Arena.
After opening the season with a home win over Armani Olimpia Milan, Partizan overcame an early 10-0 deficit in Paris before taking control behind a balanced offensive effort and relentless defense.
Jones finished with 20 points, five assists and three steals, while Luca Vildoza added 16 points and six steals. Tonye Jekiri contributed 15 points and seven rebounds as Partizan repeatedly punished Paris for its turnovers.
The visitors forced 21 turnovers and collected 14 steals, with Alessandro Pajola playing a major role in changing the game’s momentum. Jones and Vildoza both highlighted Pajola’s defensive energy after the game.
Partizan initially struggled from three-point range, missing its first five attempts as Paris established its early advantage. The visitors then found their rhythm, making six of their next seven attempts from beyond the arc.
Arijan Lakic provided one of the key moments of the first half when he hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Partizan a 44-40 halftime lead.
Jekiri then became a major factor in the third quarter as Partizan maintained control, while Paris stayed within striking distance by making difficult three-point shots.
The visitors pulled away in the fourth quarter, with Vildoza making an impact at both ends of the floor as Partizan extended its advantage to 85-69. Paris could not recover from the deficit.
Kyle Allman added 10 points for Partizan, while Lamar Stevens scored eight against his former club, including consecutive three-pointers during the first half. Nikola Tanaskovic also contributed nine points.
Paris was led by Nadir Hifi, who scored 19 points, while Jaren Rhoden recorded 14 points and nine rebounds. TJ Warren added 14 points.
Partizan finished the game with 22 assists and 14 steals while shooting 59.5% from two-point range and 42.1% from three-point range. Paris shot 60% from inside the arc but made only 11 of 30 three-point attempts and committed 21 turnovers.
Partizan improved to 2-0 and will visit FC Bayern Munich on Thursday with an opportunity to continue its perfect start. Paris will look for its first victory when it hosts Zalgiris Kaunas on the same day.
