By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In a game definitely not for the faint-hearted, Bayern Munich defeated Panathinaikos 80 – 79 to capture its first win in the club’s return to EuroLeague.
It was one bona fide thriller until the very last seconds. That was when Vladimir Lucic stole the ball from James Gist following two missed throws by Devin Booker, to prevent Panathinaikos from having a chance for a potential game-winner, thus sealing Bayern’s victory.
Lucic had also scored a key jumper for the 80 – 77 with nine seconds remaining following a brilliant pass by Stefan Jovic. Keith Langford, who previously had a huge 3-point play to keep his team close, drained two free throws for the 80 – 79 but that was the last his team scored in the game, thus falling to 1-1.
“Panathinaikos is one of the biggest teams in the EuroLeague and that’s why this is a big win for us”, said Bayern’s coach Dejan Radonjic.
Langford scored a team-high 18 points while Nihad Djedovic had 19 (including some cold free throw shooting down the stretch) for Bayern. Lucic added 11 plus five rebounds and three steals. Booker also had 11 and Danilo Barthel 12. Stefan Jovic contributed four points, five assists, and four steals.
“I was not surprised by the game of Bayern, because after their first home loss I expected them to be prepared”, said Panathinaikos coach Xavi Pascual, who added for his team: “We had 17 turnovers and we have to improve in order to win on the road”.
Dinos Mitoglou was the only other Panathinaikos player in double figures, with a EuroLeague career-high 10 points. Greek center Ian Vougioukas missed the game for personal reasons.