By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A magnificent all-around, career night performance by Nick Calathes led Panathinaikos to a 81 – 70 victory against Fenerbahce and old pal Zeljko Obradovic in OAKA. The Greens improved their record to 7 – 5 while the Turkish team now stands at eight victories and four defeats.
And it all happened particularly thanks to Calathes’ output. The 27-year-old guard dropped 16 points, dished out 11 assists, grabbed 8 rebounds and stole the ball 5 times for 34 in PIR, a new personal best in EuroLeague.
He wasn’t alone of course, since Demetris Nichols added 14 points plus 4 rebounds and K.C. Rivers 10, as many as James Feldeine who also dished 4 assists and a key downtown bucket for the 78 – 68 with less than two minutes to go. A shot that sealed the fate of the game in his team’s favor.
Meanwhile Panathinaikos committed less turnovers than any other game in its Euroleague history, finishing only with three. A feature that doesn’t only highlight their concentrated mindset but Fenerbahce‘s failure to disturb their hosts’ attacks.
What is more, the winning side’s defensive efforts were stunning and kept Fenerbahce’s offense at low standards, with the exception of James Nunnally (20 points), Kostas Sloukas (13 points) and Ekpe Udoh (10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists).
The Greens’ most notable asset in the match, especially in the second half was the weapon with which they forced their opponents to score only 33 points, while answering with 40.
Coach Pascual’s team was already leading 41 – 37 at halftime, but truly improved its stops against Fener after the return from the locker rooms. Perhaps the most critical period which truly put Panathinaikos in a pole position was a six minute time-frame that spanned from the end of the third quarter to the mid of the fourth.
It was then that Calathes and co. transformed the 57 – 52 into 71 – 57 getting at a distance that was large enough to prevent any attempt by their opponents to claim something from the game.
The only thing that the guests were able to do was cut the deficit to 7, 75 – 68 with 2 minutes to go. But the the crucial basket by Feldeine solidified his team’s hold in the game and their happy end.