By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos defeated Barcelona 76 – 70 at OAKA arena to improve its EuroLeague record to 5-3. Meanwhile, the Blaugrana suffered their first loss after five straight wins and thus dropped to 5-3.
Strong defense (Barcelona’s 70 points are the less the team has scored in the EuroLeague season so far) and offensive rebounds (14) did the trick for Panathinaikos. The latter element was a key aspect, particularly down the stretch.
Barcelona was down 67 – 54 with seven minutes remaining but then rallied to draw closer with the game nearing its completion. Even though they lost the double-digit lead, the Greens managed to renew some offenses to remain up in the score.
The visiting squad made it a 6-point game, 72 – 66 with 1:22 to go but that was the closest they got. Thomas Heurtel, a main figure behind his team’s comeback attempt, missed a transition lay-up and then Nikos Pappas won a foul by Pierre Oriola to hand his team a safe advantage of eight, 74 – 66 from the free throw line.
Former Barcelona player DeShaun Thomas scored 14 points for Panathinaikos while Nick Calathes posted 12 assists and nine rebounds to make up for a struggling shooting night (1/9 from the field). Stephane Lasme added 11 points.
Kyle Kuric had 17 points, Kevin Seraphin 15 (and five boards) while Thomas Heurtel tallied 12 points, five rebounds and four assists for Barcelona.