By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens got the 82-71 victory over Unicaja Malaga on Day 10 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague at home. The Greek team got its fifth consecutive win while the Spanish side lost its fourth consecutive game of season.
The key: After starting the third quarter on a bad note being down seven points, Panathinaikos went on a 10-0 run showing its intentions. Once Carlos Suarez was ejected in the fourth quarter, the home team responded with an 11-0 run to increase its lead to double-digits.
The game: In the first five minutes of the game, both teams were challenging one another, playing tough defense and not allowing easy points. With Calathes and Gist leading the way Panathinaikos got a one-point first quarter lead (16-15). The home side increased its lead to six points in the early second quarter (24-18). Unicaja, however with Milosavljevic scoring, went up ahead by three points (28-31). The first half ended 32-35 with both teams struggling offensively.
After the half-time break, the visitors even increased their lead to seven points (34-41) but the Greek champions responded with a 10-0 run and Calathes scoring six points going up ahead 44-41. The game, however, remained competitive as the third period ended a tie game 54-54.
In the final ten minutes of the game, both teams were going back and forth making tough shots but Panathinaikos with Papas, Rivers, Calathes making a couple of shots increased its lead to ten points (68-58). From that point, Pascual’s team did not look back.
Panathinaikos’ ‘duo’: James Gist finished with a double-double 17 points and tied a career-high with 11 rebounds, while Nick Calathes added 16 points and 12 assists for the winners.
Not enough: Carlos Suarez finished with 14 points for Malaga but was ejected in the fourth quarter.