By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The champs were back in Berlin where they won the 2024 EuroLeague crown and haven’t lost a beat. Panathinaikos got the 87-77 win against ALBA Berlin, an opponent with moderate goals.
The duo of Kendrick Nunn (16 p.) and Mathias Lessort (14 p. 8 r.) made things happen for the Greeks.
Still, with ALBA making a last effort to cut the lead, Kostas Sloukas (10 p. 5 as.), Juancho Hernangomez (11 p.), and Jerian Grant (10 p.) made key shots.
ALBA got 13 points from Will McDowell-White, however, in a game of runs, the Germans were competitive only in the third period and couldn’t avoid a home defeat.
A day in the office for the champs
Panathinaikos led by 10 (17-7) after less than four minutes of action. The first quarter ended with the Greens up by nine (26-17) who kept the same distance on the halftime score (45-36) with Mathias Lessort having 10 points and four rebounds in 13 minutes.
ALBA did fight back and after a three by Martin Hermannsson and a two by Matteo Spagnolo made it a two-point game (56-54) completing a 7-0 run. Panathinaikos’ answer was a 6-0 run with a goal foul by Lorenzo Brown and a three by Juancho Hernangomez (62-54) and the third period ended with the score being 62-57 after a three by McDowell-White.
However, the defending champions opened up the last period with a 9-0 run (71-57) setting things straight with Nunn starting it making two back-to-back shots. ALBA trimmed the lead to five (73-68), but Sloukas and Juancho silenced the crowd with back-to-back threes (79-68).
Sloukas and Grant with two more threes (85-75) kept the distance again when ALBA made it a four-point game (79-75).
Ioannis Papapetrou missed the game after suffering a minor foot injury during Wednesday night’s practice and Panathinaikos had 11 available players.