By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic led Real Madrid in the final moments to an 89-82 win against Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens ending the EuroLeague playoff series in their favor (3-1) and therefore, qualifying for the Final Four in Belgrade.
Although trailing in double-digits for most of the game, the Greeks opened the first six minutes of the last period with a 15-2 run and decreased the margin to only five points (80-75) with four minutes left.
The game went on around that margin until Nick Calathes’ shot from behind the arc cut the lead to only three points with a minute and a half left (85-82). But Doncic took the responsibility in the following offense and decided the game with an amazing 3-point shot off the board stopping the opponent’s momentum.
The Slovenian boy-wonder led the victors with 17 points and five assists while Gustavo Ayon helped with 12 points and six rebounds. On the other side, Chris Singleton scored a game-high 21 points while Mike James also had a good night with 18 points.
The first few minutes of the game were balanced with Panathinaikos having a slight advantage (12-9) but that was the moment when Madrid took over the game. They made a 16-4 run during the first and early second quarter to gain a lead by a nine-point margin (25-16) forcing coach Xavi Pascual to call a timeout.
Panathinaikos reacted and cut the lead to three, but the answer of the hosts was a 24-9 run which was completed with two 3-pointers in a row from Sergio Llull. Madrid went to the locker room with a 51-35 lead. And it was not a surprise as Panathinaikos had no answer for Madrid’s offense, which made 15 out of 16 shots from the two-point territory. Panathinaikos tried to get back into the game and had the chance to steal the win, but then Doncic happened.