By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid beat Panathinaikos 87-84 and improved to a 5-2 record thanks to the brilliance of Sergio Llull who scored 30 points, a Euroleague career personal best.
Llull was the heart and soul of Madrid, while James Feldeine scored 19 points for the Greens. Panathinaikos not only was defeated, but may have lost James Games for the upcoming game against Olympiacos due to injury.
In the first period, Panathinaikos was able to control the pace of the game with notable efficiency from the 3-point line. The visiting team kept a short lead throughout the quarter, which eventually finished 21 – 23. Nikos Pappas and Ioannis Bourousis gave the Greens a 6-point lead with long distance shots, yet the answer was quick by the hosts. Pappas tied the score at 44 – 44 with less than 2 minutes left for halftime, then the quarter ended 53 – 50 in Real Madrid’s favor.
After the break, the two teams were toe to toe during the third quarter. After a few changes in the lead and a couple of ties, Real was up 72-68 after 30 minutes in the game. The pattern of the game didn’t change in the final period, though Panathinaikos managed a 75-76 halfway through it. The hosts tied the score at 79 points a few moments later and none of the teams could get a satisfying lead. With less than two minutes left, Real was up by two , then by three thanks to Llull and sealed the win.