Jazz draftee Williams-Goss leads Partizan to Serbian Cup
While Donovan Mitchell and Dante Exum were taking in NBA All-Star Weekend stateside, Jazz draftee Nigel Williams-Goss was winning a huge game in Europe.
Although his club, Belgrade’s KK Partizan, has struggled to a 1-9 record in EuroCup competition and sits at just 10-10 in Adriatic League games, they pulled out a big win over their cross-town rivals Crvena Zvezda on Sunday.
In doing so, Williams-Goss and Co. captured the Radivoj Korac Cup — the national cup for Serbia.
.@PartizanBC have won their 14th national cup after beating @kkcrvenazvezda in the final match - 81:75.
— AdmiralBet ABA League (@ABA_League) February 18, 2018
Congratulations! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/oJRwfYDbdQ
Partizan used a 25-9 run to establish early control in the game and led by 18 at the half. However, Crvena Zvezda gradually trimmed the lead throughout the third and fourth quarters.
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With just 53 seconds left in the contest, two free throws from Washington State alum Taylor Rochestie cut Partizan’s lead down to three at 76-73. But on the ensuing possession, Williams-Goss found big man Djordje Gagic down low for a bucket to make it a two possession game.
In the end, Partizan held on for an 81-75 victory and their 14th national cup.
Utah’s pick at No. 55 in the 2017 NBA Draft was huge in the win, scoring 23 points. He also dished out seven assists and added three rebounds and two steals. For the year, he’s averaged nearly 17 points and seven assists per game between ABA and EuroCup competition.
The Jazz continue to retain his rights.