By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The defending champions had it hard against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. However, Panathinaikos Aktor got the 93-87 win for a 6-3 record, while the Israelis dropped to 3-6.
Kendrick Nunn scored 21 points, and Mathias Lessort added 18, however, it was Cedi Osman with 12 points and Juancho Hernangomez with 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals who made things happen.
Kostas Sloukas coming from injury had five assists but went scoreless.
As coach Ataman said: “We improved 100% in our aggressivity on defense in the last 15 minutes. Our fans got involved and things changed. Lessort was great, Cedi Osman also for the first time this season gave a big contribution during this time”.
Roman Sorkin with 21 points had a great game for Maccabi, Jaylen Hoard added 14 and Rokas Jokubaitis added 12, and Saben Lee added 10.
Panathinaikos with a great finish
Maccabi owned the first half, leading by 12 (47-35) before Jerian Grant made it a 10-point game at the end of the second period.
The Israelis never lost the lead and kept their distance, closing the third period up by three (63-60) and opening the fourth with an 8-0 run (71-60)
Panathinaikos reacted and finally got the 78-76 lead with Grant scoring again, however with two minutes left the score was tied at 82.
And then, the Greens with a 7-0 run decided the outcome with Juancho making a big three (89-82).
Maccabi couldn’t record after that, missing three consecutive shots in that span. Despite trimming the lead in the end, the Israelis couldn’t get back into sticking distance.