By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
CSKA Moscow ended Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens’ undefeated home run with a 70-75 win in a late-game thriller, in a packed OAKA.
Sergio Rodriguez was the star in tonight’s game. He finished with 21 points and was clutch down the stretch, while Cory Higgins added 14.
The key point: With just four minutes on the clock, CSKA had a five-point lead (60-65), but Panathinaikos was not letting go. Higgins and Nando De Colo made two three-pointers and the Russian team got an eight-point advantage after a 14-5 run (63-71). Panathinaikos answered with a 6-0 run of its own and cut the deficit to (69-71). With 50 seconds left, Rodriguez made an incredibly tough fade-away three-pointer that put his up five points (69-74). The game eventually ended 70-75 with PAO not able to respond in the last twenty seconds.
Cold-blooded CHACHO ?️pic.twitter.com/UVGykrnaEA
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The game: Calathes was facilitating, Antetokounmpo was providing highlight plays as he and Singleton combined for 16 first-quarter points, Panathinaikos had a five-point lead after ten minutes (20-15). CSKA managed to go on a 10-2 run forcing Panathinaikos to only shoot 12% from the field in the first six minutes (22-25) of the second period. The first half eventually ended with the guests leading 31-29.
Nick Calathes and KC Rivers were hot in the third period, and the hosts got a double-digit advantage with a 17-5 partial score in the first five minutes of the third (46-36). Thanks to Rodriguez’s five quick points, the visitors cut the deficit to five points (45-41) and eventually tied it with De Colo (49-49) setting the stage for an exciting finish.
Not enough: Nick Calathes and Thanasis Antetokounmpo stood out from Panathinaikos. Calathes finished with 13 points and 11 assists, while Antetokounmpo added 13 points (career-high).