ASVEL defeats Partizan Belgrade with Jae Crowder in EuroLeague

Jae Crowder scored key baskets in the final two minutes to lift ASVEL to an 82-75 victory over Partizan Belgrade in the EuroLeague. Played on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the LDLC Arena, the match marked the eighth round of the European competition and snapped a three-game losing skid for the French club.

A Dramatic Fourth-Quarter Comeback at the LDLC Arena

Trailing 69-58 with six minutes remaining in regulation, ASVEL unleashed a decisive run to close out the contest. Guillaume Marion of Media365 noted that the hosts faced an 11-point deficit before orchestrating their late-game surge. The frantic finish erased a strong push by the visitors, who had grabbed control during the third quarter.

Partizan Belgrade had built momentum coming out of halftime, turning a 36-32 halftime deficit into a 59-56 lead at the end of the third period. Kevarrius Hayes contributed 15 points and eight rebounds for the Serbian side.

Jae Crowder and the Decisive Final Two Minutes

With the score tied at 73-73 following a three-pointer by Hugo Besson and two free throws by Patty Mills, Crowder took control of the floor. The veteran forward drew an offensive foul, converted a two-point jump shot after video review to make it 75-73, and followed up with a fade-away jumper to extend the lead to 77-73. He then secured a crucial defensive rebound with 45 seconds left on the clock to help seal the outcome.

Crowder finished the night with 13 points, matching the offensive output of teammate Tremont Waters, who added 13 points and seven assists. Patty Mills led ASVEL scorers with 14 points, while Hugo Besson chipped in eight points and five assists.

Defensive Turnaround Follows Heavy Defeat

The win brought ASVEL’s record to 3-5 in the EuroLeague standings, placing them 15th overall. The coach emphasized the defensive intensity after the game, contrasting the performance with a recent 20-point loss in Kaunas where he felt the team lacked necessary toughness and energy. The coach described the defensive effort against Partizan as the team’s best of the season.

Partizan Belgrade dropped deeper into the standings following the late collapse, failing to protect a margin built on strong inside play and perimeter shooting.

Upcoming EuroLeague Schedule

ASVEL returns to the LDLC Arena floor on Friday to host Baskonia in the next round of EuroLeague play, looking to build upon their third victory of the continental campaign.

Statistical Tale of the Tape and Early Game Action

The fixture presented a statistical contrast between the least prolific offense in the EuroLeague, which averaged 78.7 points per game for Partizan, and the most permeable defense, with ASVEL having conceded 96.7 points on average. Lyon-Villeurbanne opened the contest with a 7-0 run, highlighted by a massive block from Joel Bolomboy against a dunk attempt by Joffrey Lauvergne. The advantage stretched to 10 points at 11-1 before Partizan responded with 10 unanswered points, capped by an alley-oop from Lamar Stevens to make it 11-11. Following a timeout called by Tony Parker, ASVEL regained its footing to lead 22-19 after the first quarter.

Offensive efficiency dipped during the second period before Hugo Besson connected from beyond the arc for the only three-pointer scored across the first twenty minutes, pushing the margin to 36-25 before the visitors trimmed the gap to four points at halftime. The Serbian side seized the lead for the first time during a 7-0 burst lasting 70 seconds, engineered by an outside shot from Ethan Thompson and two baskets from Kevarrius Hayes at 36-39. After further lead changes, Robert Franks hit a corner shot at the buzzer to put Partizan ahead 59-56 at the end of the third period. Luca Vildoza extended the visitors’ advantage with accurate perimeter shooting before the hosts mounted their closing surge over the final six minutes. Team statistics recorded 47.1% shooting from the field for ASVEL compared to 47.4% for Partizan, with the hosts converting 6 of 19 three-pointers and 12 of 16 free throws, against 9 of 18 from deep and 12 of 21 from the line for the visiting squad. Rebounds favored ASVEL 36 to 32, including 15 offensive boards to 11. In other European action, Bourg-en-Bresse lost 77-96 away to Chemnitz in the EuroCup, Le Mans fell 83-90 at home against Hapoel Jerusalem, Cholet was beaten 65-69 at home by Spartak Subotica in the Champions League, Chalon-sur-Saône won 94-66 away against Bashkimi in Kosovo in the FIBA Europe Cup, and Nancy lost 87-90 in Poland against Szczecin. Unbeaten in BetClic Elite, the club managed by Tony Parker holds its 3-5 EuroLeague record. Je n’avais pas aimé notre mentalité et notre énergie dans ce match. Il fallait changer ça, explained the coach.

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