Zach LeDay explains critical mistake vs Baskonia: 'We have to listen to the coach' / News - Basketnews.com

Zach LeDay said the plan was to make a foul against Markus Howard but Partizan didn't execute it.

Credit: BNS, K. Kavolėlis Credit BNS, K. Kavolėlis

Basketball is a game of small details. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade felt it in the most painful way possible last night.

Player of the Game EFF 27 Markus Howard Points 33 Accuracy 9-16 Rebounds 0 Assists 1

Partizan's victory was within reach, but it slipped cruelly from the hands of the black-and-white team.

The hero of the night was Baskonia's point guard Markus Howard, who nailed 8-of-12 attempts from deep, coming two shy of a EuroLeague record and one short of a club record set by Mirza Teletovic, who was in attendance for this game.

Former NBA player drained a last-second triple which sent the game into overtime.

"We should have won the game, but we didn't. A defeat that hurts, really... Especially because we had everything in our hands," Zach LeDay told Mozzart Sport after the match.

Howard's dagger in the dying seconds could have been avoided by a tactical foul.

"The plan was to foul a player but when you're on the court, things happen fast. We have to focus. He hit a lot of tough shots, especially that last one, but I repeat: we have to stay focused," LeDay added.

Partizan's American shone on the Vitoria hardcourt. He finished the thriller with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 32 PIR.

"Small details decided the game, but we have to move on and focus on the challenges ahead. We need to listen to the coach and correct mistakes. We will analyze everything in this game and get ready for the next opponent."

Partizan will meet two Italian teams -- Milan and Virtus -- at home next week. The EuroLeague matches will be played on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.

"Many games are waiting for us. Now, the games are coming in front of our fans, this is something that we want to take advantage of in order to get the victories that we are all working for," LeDay pointed out.

Although the new EuroLeague season started with two defeats, Zach LeDay sees some positive signs.

"For sure, guys are training hard, while the coaching staff is also working intensively. We should have won, but we didn't and that's it. Let's move forward," concluded the 28-year-old.

Coach Zeljko Obradovic also commented on the last Baskonia attack in the fourth quarter.

"[It's] very difficult to say anything because I believe we played well. It was very easy [for us] to win the game in regulation [time]. What happened is the beauty of basketball.

It was an incomparably better view than in Berlin against ALBA. That was an initial goal. I can be satisfied with that, but even that was obviously not enough to win the game. Congratulations to Baskonia. Both teams fought until the end."

Game highlights

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