Panathinaikos BC handled a tough road stop at Belgrade Arena and beat KK Partizan Mozzart Bet 72-55 in Euroleague Round 5. The game was tight early before the visitors separated with a dominant third quarter. Panathinaikos shot well from deep, protected the rim, and kept control of the scoreboard for most of the night. Partizan’s offense never found rhythm, especially from three. Full box score and play-by-play are available on Sofascore.

Shooting splits decided it

Shotmaking told the story. Partizan finished 21/63 from the field for 33 percent and only 4/26 from three at 15 percent. Panathinaikos hit 27/60 for 45 percent overall and 9/24 from deep for 38 percent. That nine-made-threes column was a cushion the hosts never matched. Nigel Hayes-Davis led the way for the Greens with 14 points, including 2/4 from three. Guerschon Yabusele added two threes, and Juancho Hernangomez chipped in one more. On the other side, Partizan’s backcourt struggled to convert. Carlik Jones shot 2/11 from the field, while Luca Vildoza went 2/8 with 0/5 from long range. Arijan Lakić and Kyle Allman combined for 1/7 from behind the arc, and that math piled up quickly.

At the line the teams were even on makes, with Partizan at 9/13 and Panathinaikos at 9/14. Free throws kept the hosts afloat for stretches but could not offset the gap from three. When you win the three-point battle by five makes on the road, you usually win the game. Panathinaikos did exactly that.

Rebounds and second chances

The boards were competitive, yet the split inside the split mattered. Panathinaikos edged total rebounds 38-35 and controlled the defensive glass 30-24. That limited Partizan’s second looks despite the hosts pulling 11 offensive boards. Tonye Jekiri fought hard with nine points and seven rebounds, five of them offensive. Kevarrius Hayes gave Partizan a perfect shooting night at 4/4 and added three rebounds. Still, Panathinaikos often ended plays with one stop and out. Mathias Lessort was central there with nine rebounds and activity in traffic.

Moustapha Fall added seven boards and presence in the paint. Forwards chipped in too, with Yabusele grabbing five defensive rebounds and keeping Partizan to one-and-done trips. Those clean possessions fed transition and early offense for the visitors. Even with Partizan winning second-chance chances in spurts, the balance of control tilted green over 40 minutes.

The third quarter swing

Halftime showed 35-28 to Panathinaikos after a 19-12 second quarter. Then came the breakaway. The visitors took the third 20-8 and effectively settled the contest. Threes from Guerschon Yabusele, Nikos Rogkavopoulos, and Jerian Grant stretched the floor and the lead. Nigel Hayes-Davis kept piling points with a mix of drives and spot-ups. By the horn at 30 minutes, Panathinaikos led 55-36.

In total, Panathinaikos spent 30:00 in front and built a biggest lead of 21. There were only two lead changes all night, both early. The visitors also posted an 11-0 max run to break resistance right after halftime. Partizan won the fourth 19-17 but the heavy lift had already happened in Q3. When a quarter swings 20-8 at this level, the margin is hard to chase.

Playmaking and protection

The assist column was balanced, with Partizan at 18 and Panathinaikos at 17. Even so, the visitors’ creation arrived at the right moments and off stops. Sylvain Francisco handed out five assists, and Lessort added four neat feeds from the elbow and short roll. Partizan shared it well through Ethan Thompson and Vildoza, who had four assists each, and Jones and Alessandro Pajola at three apiece. The extra pass was there for stretches, but the shots did not fall.

Turnovers were not the decider. Partizan had 12 and Panathinaikos 14, which is a trade the road team will take if it wins shooting and rebounding phases. The Greens added seven steals and five blocks, compared to five steals and two blocks for Partizan. That rim deterrence mattered on a cold shooting night for the hosts. A couple of those blocks snuffed out mini-runs and kept the crowd from catching fire.

Standouts and Sofascore Ratings

Panathinaikos spread the load with several efficient shifts. Nigel Hayes-Davis scored 14 points on 6/12 shooting and posted a Sofascore Rating of 7.4. Juancho Hernangomez added 10 points on 4/6 with four rebounds for a 7.1. Guerschon Yabusele filled the box score with seven points, five boards, three assists, a steal, and a block, earning a 7.8. Mathias Lessort was everywhere with four points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals for a team-best 8.2. Moustapha Fall’s late buckets and seven boards came with a 7.7.

For Partizan, Kevarrius Hayes led the efficiency charts. He scored 10 points on 4/4 shooting, including a made three, for a 7.6 Sofascore Rating. Tonye Jekiri brought energy with nine points, seven boards, and two steals, also at 7.6. Lamar Stevens had eight points, six rebounds, and a block for a 6.9. The backcourt’s tough shooting night capped ceilings, though, and that shaped the final margin.

What it means for both sides

This was a classic Euroleague road blueprint from Panathinaikos. Defend the arc, win the glass, take care of the scoreboard, and let shot quality do the rest. The Greens’ 38 percent from three and 45 percent overall were enough once the third-quarter burst landed. Partizan kept fighting, won the assist column, and found productive frontcourt minutes, but 15 percent from long range left too much to cover. Home crowds help, yet make-or-miss games do not lie.

With five rounds gone, every possession matters in the Euroleague traffic. Panathinaikos leave Belgrade with a statement away win and a defensive template to repeat. Partizan have positives to carry forward in offensive rebounding and frontcourt efficiency. Sharper perimeter shooting will be the target in the next outing. Track upcoming fixtures, live momentum swings, and every Sofascore Rating as the season unfolds on Sofascore.