By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Five straight points from Elliot Williams let Panathinaikos escape from Istanbul with a big victory against Darussafaka (84-86), with the Greens making a decisive step in the battle of qualification.
For the winners, Miroslav Raduljica had 21 points and six rebounds, with Williams adding 18 points. On the other hand, Semih Erden scored 18 points for the losing squad, which has already been eliminated.
Darussafaka made a better start to the game and quickly took the lead (9-4, 15-10), managing to extend it to eight points, at the end of the first quarter (23-15).
Later, things didn’t change much (30-22, 37-27), with the Turks having control of the game. However, Panathinaikos enhanced their overall performance, went on a 13-5 run and cut the deficit to just two, after 20 minutes in the game (42-40).
In the second half, the Greens immediately tied the game (44-44), but the hosts quickly managed to regain the lead (55-50). However, Antonis Fotsis’ three-pointer gave the visitors a two-point advantage at the end of the third quarter (63-65).
In the fourth quarter, consecutive lead changes took place (75-70, 77-81, 84-81), but Williams scored five straight points (two free throws, one three-pointer) and helped Panathinaikos earn a big victory on the road, as Scottie Wilbekin missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.