By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos came close to falling victim of a major upset in the hands of Promitheas in Patras but managed to survive with a narrow 72 – 69 after a comeback and improve its Greek League record to 13-1.
Giannis Bourousis led all scorers with 20 points while grabbing 6 rebounds, but it was the game-winning action of Nikos Pappas and Mike James that made all the difference down the stretch.
With their team down 64 – 57 after consecutive bucket by Nikos Gkikas, one of the top players of Promitheas with 14 points, Pappas answered in the same currency and then Mike James dropped eight points in a row to give his team the lead, 68 – 66 with 1:32 left.
Gkikas struck again but the American guard of Panathinaikos responded and then Pappas went 2/2 from the line for the 72 – 69.
James finished with 13 points plus 5 assists while Pappas added 14. For Promitheas that even held a double-digit lead 50 – 39 in a moment when only Bourousis was fighting for his team, Muhammad Faye finished with 17 points.
The team from Patras is currently at a 4 – 10 record.