Real Madrid Get First Win, End Partizan's Run

Real Madrid beat Partizan Belgrade 86⁠–⁠76 at the Movistar Arena in Madrid on Thursday, 8 October in the EuroLeague. The game started at 20:45 CEST, which is 2:45 p.m. ET (EuroLeague game header and schedule). It was Real Madrid's first EuroLeague win of the season, after three losses in a row, and the first defeat for Partizan, who had won all three of their games (EuroLeague official box score; Anadolu Agency).

Real Madrid's season began badly. All three of their first games were away from home, and they lost all three: by one point, 78⁠–⁠77, at Dubai, then 94⁠–⁠84 at Anadolu Efes of Istanbul and 102⁠–⁠98 at Hapoel Tel Aviv (EuroLeague results). Those were the first three EuroLeague games under their new head coach, Pedro Martínez (Anadolu Agency; EuroLeague game header). Thursday's game was his first EuroLeague game at home with the club (Marca).

Partizan, coached by Joan Peñarroya, arrived with three wins: 92⁠–⁠76 over Olimpia Milan, 92⁠–⁠79 at Paris and 86⁠–⁠84 at Bayern Munich (EuroLeague results; EuroLeague game header). They were one of four clubs with three wins and no losses before this round (EuroLeague results).

The game was settled in the first half. Partizan led 16⁠–⁠15 late in the first quarter, but Real Madrid then outscored them 30⁠–⁠10 over about nine minutes to lead 45⁠–⁠26 in the second quarter (EuroLeague play-by-play; Real Madrid). That stretch included 14 points in a row, from 21⁠–⁠19 to 35⁠–⁠19, across the end of the first quarter and the start of the second (EuroLeague play-by-play). Real Madrid led 27⁠–⁠19 after the first quarter and 53⁠–⁠37 at half-time (EuroLeague box score).

Partizan came back after the break. They scored the first three baskets of the third quarter, including a three-pointer by Carlik Jones, and later in the quarter cut the lead to six points at 60⁠–⁠54, the closest they came after half-time (EuroLeague play-by-play; Eurohoops). Real Madrid pulled away again to lead 71⁠–⁠57 after three quarters (EuroLeague box score).

In the fourth quarter Real Madrid reached a 20-point lead, at 83⁠–⁠63, with six minutes left. Partizan then scored ten points in a row to make it 83⁠–⁠73 with three and a half minutes to go (EuroLeague play-by-play; Real Madrid). Théo Maledon stopped the run with a basket and a free throw, and Real Madrid saw the game out (EuroLeague play-by-play; Real Madrid).

Théo Maledon scored 13 points for Real Madrid without missing any of his seven free throws, the uncontested shots worth one point each awarded after a foul. Facundo Campazzo added 12 (EuroLeague box score). The scoring was spread out: eight Real Madrid players scored between seven and 13 points (EuroLeague box score; Real Madrid). Walter Tavares took eight rebounds, which means collecting the ball after a missed shot (EuroLeague box score).

As a team, Real Madrid made all 17 of their free throws (EuroLeague box score). Partizan made only three of their 20 three-point attempts (EuroLeague box score). Carlik Jones led Partizan with 19 points and Ethan Thompson added 14 with eight rebounds (EuroLeague box score; Anadolu Agency).

Martínez said the first half showed some of his team's best play of the season. "The players were very focused. In the first half, we were excellent, transitioning from defense to attack and vice versa," he said. He added that his team lacked consistency after the break, and called it "an important win to build confidence" (Real Madrid).

Real Madrid play at Olimpia Milan on Tuesday, 13 October, at 20:30 CEST, which is 2:30 p.m. ET. Partizan host Panathinaikos, one of the two teams still unbeaten, in Belgrade at the same time (EuroLeague schedule).

What a reader can take from Thursday in Madrid is that Real Madrid found their best form of the season for one half, which was enough to end Partizan's unbeaten start.