)
Partizan have confirmed in an official statement that Lamar Stevens suffered a hand injury during their EuroLeague Round 2 clash against Paris Basketball, ruling him out of the upcoming trip to Bayern Munich. Fortunately for the Belgrade powerhouse, scans revealed no serious damage, with the forward expected to be sidelined for only seven to ten days.
Partizan's official club statement reads in full:
"Partizan forward Lamar Stevens suffered a hand injury during the EuroLeague Round 2 game against Paris Basketball. The player underwent medical examinations the following day to assess the extent of the damage. Detailed scans confirmed there is no fracture, and his estimated recovery time is between 7 and 10 days from the moment of the injury." - KK Partizan
This leaves Partizan short-handed in the frontcourt early in the campaign, as Derek Willis remains on the injury list. Stevens, alongside occasional minutes from Arijan Lakić, had been slotting in at power forward over the opening two EuroLeague rounds during Willis' absence.
Power forward is the natural position for Nikola Tanasković, as well as recent arrival Bandja Sy, while Mario Nakić is capable of slotting in at the three. In different tactical setups, head coach Joan Peñarroya could also look to deploy Ethan Thompson on the wing.
Stevens has averaged 21 minutes across the first two EuroLeague fixtures, posting 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, an assist, and a steal per contest. He put up 11 points and five rebounds in the opener against Olimpia Milano before recording eight points, three boards, and two assists in Paris.
Alongside Willis, captain Vanja Marinković remains unavailable through injury. On a brighter note, Joffrey Lauvergne is back in contention and fit for the Munich trip after sitting out the first two rounds.
Partizan fans take over Munich ahead of EuroLeague clash
Partizan take on Bayern Munich in EuroLeague Round 3 this Friday at 8:00 PM CET, with a massive travelling contingent once again making the journey to Germany to back their team.
With the fixture coinciding with Munich's Oktoberfest celebrations, the black-and-white faithful set the mood for the game by packing into one of the city's iconic beer halls.
Social media footage showed a sea of Partizan supporters filling the venue, replacing traditional Bavarian oompah music with full-throated fan chants and roaring applause. Take a look:
The Black-and-Whites look to keep their winning streak rolling
Partizan are aiming to extend their flawless EuroLeague start following back-to-back victories in Europe's premier basketball competition. Live television coverage will be broadcast across major networks, while fans can follow all the action from the SAP Garden via our live blog.
Partizan are gunning for a third consecutive EuroLeague victory.
After edging Olimpia Milano at home and triumphing in Paris, Joan Peñarroya's men head to Munich this Friday at 8:00 PM CET to face Bayern, who are led by former Partizan captain Vladimir Lučić.
Morale is high in the Partizan camp, with the squad eager to step onto the floor and maintain their winning run. Notably, Partizan have never started a EuroLeague campaign 3-0 in club history.
Peñarroya: Bayern have exceptional shooters
The team held their practice session in Munich on Thursday, after which Joan Peñarroya sought to temper expectations and ease the pressure on his players:
"We have another crucial game ahead of us, and another road trip. Bayern are playing their home opener, but I hope our traveling fans will give us a lift on Friday. Bayern are a very dangerous side with exceptional perimeter shooting, and they execute out of the pick-and-roll exceptionally well. They always want to dictate the tempo, so a difficult challenge awaits us. That said, we must stay committed to playing as a unit, remain solid on both ends of the floor, and keep improving day by day." - Joan Peñarroya
Lakić and Tanasković: We must keep improving every single day
Guard Arijan Lakić also shared his thoughts ahead of the Bayern showdown.
"Against Paris last round, we gave everything and tried to execute the game plan to the letter. I think we accomplished that, largely thanks to the incredible energy and support from our fans, who helped us match the opponent's intensity. We are hoping for that same backing against Bayern. As for us, we can't let our guard down; we need to stay grounded and take it step by step. Bayern are a top-quality side playing solid basketball, and I don't think their scoreline from last week reflects their true level. In the EuroLeague, you need full focus for all 40 minutes, and I hope to see as many of our fans there as possible." - Arijan Lakić
Summer signing Nikola Tanasković has quickly grown into a fan favorite:
"A tough match awaits because Bayern boast an extremely talented roster, with some of the best shooters in the league. We have to respond with high energy and grit. The mood in the locker room is great, especially after such a strong start, and hopefully we can maintain this rhythm. We know what to expect and we will be ready for Friday." - Nikola Tanasković
How to watch Bayern Munich vs. Partizan
The EuroLeague Round 3 fixture between Partizan and Bayern Munich will be broadcast live on Arena Premium 1.
Live text commentary and real-time updates are also available on our Sportal live blog.
What's next after Munich?
Following the clash in Munich, Partizan return home to Belgrade to face Mega Basket in the ABA League on Monday, before travelling to Spain to square off against Real Madrid in EuroLeague Round 4.
EuroLeague Standings
Video: Joan Peñarroya breaks down the main threats ahead of the Munich clash
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
&format=webp)
&format=webp)
&format=webp)