In a decisive match of the Euroleague's 30th round, Partizan Belgrade faced a significant setback, losing to Anadolu Efes Istanbul with a score of 65 to 97. Following this defeat, Partizan’s record stands at 15 wins and 15 losses, placing them 12th in the league table—two spots and a victory away from a playoff position.

In contrast, Efes improves their standing to 16 wins and 14 losses, holding ninth place, which is a playoff qualifying position.

The match showcased a dominant performance by Efes from the very beginning, quickly establishing an early advantage with a score of 2 to 10. Despite a brief resurgence from Partizan, with players like Tajrik Jones and Bonga pushing the score to a tie at 16-16, Partizan was unable to sustain their momentum.

Efes gained full control and dominated the game, leading to a surprising halftime score of 33 to 54.

The second half saw no change in the course of the game, as Partizan struggled to keep up, witnessing Efes extend their lead to 32 points at one stage.

Heading into the final quarter, the score read 45 to 73, with Efes effectively managing the remaining time to secure an emphatic victory.

For Efes, the standout performers were Thompson, who scored 19 points, and Bryant, who contributed 18 points.

Partizan's top scorers included Tajrik Jones and Bonga, each with 11 points.

Looking ahead, Partizan will face Alba Berlin at home in their next match on Tuesday, while Efes will host Baskonia the following day.

This match is crucial for Partizan's aspirations of qualifying for the playoffs as they now enter a tight schedule of games against strong opponents.