Pavlovic, Kinsey fuel Partizan past Munich

Partizan NIS Belgrade led from start to finish, beating FC Bayern Munich 70-55 in the Serbian capital on Thursday. The win improved the Serbian champs to 2-7 and seventh place in Group F. The result also kept its slim playoff chances alive, while Bayern dropped to 4-5 and at least a share of fourth place in the standings. Sasha Pavlovic fueled a 13-2 run in the first quarter to give Partizan an early double-digit lead, and Tarrance Kinsey scored 15 points in the second quarter as the hosts extended it to 18 points, and held a 44-28 halftime edge. The hosts, without several long-term injured starters, including the latest casualty Bogdan Bogdanovic, never relinquished a double-digit lead after the break, using its defense to cruise to victory. Pavlovic and Kinsey off the bench each scored 21 points in victory. Milenko Tepic collected 9 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, while Joffrey Lauvergne pulled down 10 rebounds along with 8 points. Nihad Djedovic scored 12 for the visitors, and Yassin Idbihi had 10 in defeat.

First quarter: Pavlovic and Partizan start strong

Lauvergne opened the scoring with a mid-range jumper, and followed it with a put-back. Robin Benzing quickly replied with a triple to open Bayern's account, but Pavlovic drove for a layup and Mihajilo Andric added a long jumper for an 8-3 Belgrade lead. The hosts' defense shut down Bayern, with Djedovic only managing a pair of free throws, meanwhile Pavlovic sank a triple, drove for another layup, then Kinsey stole a ball and raced for an uncontested layup that made it 17-5. After a timeout, the visitors found a way to slow down Partizan, and Heiko Schaffartzik hit a jumper as the host held a 19-9 lead after 10 minutes.

Second quarter: Kinsey’s 15 points lead Partizan to controlling margin

Kinsey started the second quarter with a tip-in, but Idbihi scored twice inside, and Boris Savovic hustled for a layup, cutting it to 21-15. Musli and Djedovic traded baskets inside, as Bayern played aggressive defensive pressure. But Kinsey hit a jumper, before he and Dejan Musli each made a pair of free throws for a 29-17 cushion. Schaffartzik nailed a long two, and Djedovic drove the lane for a layup, but Kinsey drove for a layup himself, and added 2 more free throws to make it 35-21. After a long jumper from Djedovic, a triple from Pavlovic and another basket from Kinsey extended it to 17 points. Lucca Staiger hit a baseline jumper for the visitors, before trading triples with Tepic in the final minute of the half, and Kinsey's last second free throw made it 44-28 at the halftime.

Third quarter: Hosts hold on to safe cushion

Benzing hit a triple for Bayern to start the scoring in the third quarter, but Pavlovic hit from downtown at the other end, and Lauvergne scored a fastbreak layup to make it 49-33. After Bayern's coach Svetislav Pesic called a timeout, Idbihi and Pavlovic traded baskets, before Malcolm Delaney and Djedovic each scored a put-back, cutting it to 51-39. After a delay caused by a shot-clock malfunction, Kinsey scored 4 points, and assisted Tepic for a layup and 57-39. Staiger scored a put-back for Bayern, Lauvergne answered with a long jumper, before John Bryant nailed a pair of jumpers to end the quarter, 60-45.

Fourth quarter: Partizan's defense closes it out

Baskets were few and far between in the fourth quarter. Musli scored from close range, which was the only bucket in more than five minutes, as Partizan’s zone defense kept the visitors scoreless. Pavlovic hit a corner triple to make it 64-45, before Bryant ended Bayern’s drought. Djedovic added a layup, and Chevon Troutman a tip-in. Pavlovic drove to the hoop to snap Bayern’s little run, before Idbihi scored a layup with two minutes to go. If there was any doubt left, Tepic sealed it with a layup. Before the game’s end, Tepic hit a baseline jumper, and Idbihi ended things with a put-back to round out the scoring.