By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
CSKA Moscow was the favorite and got the win, but Panathinaikos tried until the end in order to prove that the team at least has pride. The Russians won 81-77 still the Greens, playing without a new head coach, did their best.
Andrey Vorontsevich with 20 points was the key for the win, Nando De Colo once again had a big game (20 p.), while Aaron Jackson with 9 points on three shots had a key contribution on a night that Milos Teodosic had 9 assists, but also 3 turnovers and only 6 points.
For Panathinaikos Demetris Nichols, a Euroleague champ last season with CSKA who has not been used yet in the Greek league, scored 20 points and set a new personal best in Euroleague. KC Rivers added 16 points with Giorgos Vovoras, former assistant of Argiris Pedoulakis who resigned on Tuesday, serving as the interim head coach. The captain Nick Calathes flirted with the triple double, having 10 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
CSKA Moscow had a small 35-30 lead after the first half and the guests got into the game in the third, taking the lead and having a five points advantage (68-63) with six minutes left. That was CSKA Moscow’s cue. The hosts with a 11-0 run got the lead back (74-68) and kept their distance until the end.