Panathinaikos got a great “double” in Sarajevo against Dubai BC, winning 104-107 with Kendrick Nunn and Nigel Hayes-Davis leading the way.
Panathinaikos had another “final” ahead of them, facing Dubai at the neutral court in Sarajevo for the 33rd round of the EuroLeague. The “Greens” celebrated a great… double (104-107) with Cedi Osman leading the way in the first half and Kendrick Nunn and Nigel Hayes-Davis leading the way in the last quarter.
The game started with Moussa giving Dubai an early lead, hitting two 3-pointers to make it 9-7, but Lesor responded immediately, coming out strong to make it 11-11. Kendrick Nunn was distributing the ball brilliantly at the start, quickly reaching three assists, with Osman providing solutions and Panathinaikos taking the lead (11-15 at 5′). However, things got difficult when Nunn was charged with three early fouls in the 7th minute. Nevertheless, Hayes-Davis kept the cloverleaf ahead (15-19), before Musa got… on fire. The Bosnian made the difference in the first quarter, scoring 13 points and leading his team to a 26-25 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Dubai turned up the intensity, with Moussa and Bacon giving them a lead (30-25), while a 9-2 run brought the margin to double digits (37-27 at 13′). Panathinaikos had serious problems on defense, conceding 41 points in 15 minutes (41-29). At that point, Ergin Ataman changed the game, opting for a tall lineup of Grant, Osman, Hayes-Davis, Juancho and Lesor. Osman stepped up and scored seven points to cut the lead to 43-39, but Bertans responded immediately for a 46-39 lead. Juancho again kept Panathinaikos close (46-42), while another Osman three-pointer brought the score to 48-45. The half ended with Dubai leading 50-47.
After the break, Juancho hit a three-pointer to tie the game (50-50), with Mitoglou continuing at the same pace, hitting two threes to make it 55-56. Dubai responded with personal efforts from Musa and Kabengele, who hit foul shots, while Wright’s basket made it 63-60. After some time on the bench due to a foul, Nunn returned and provided solutions, while Osman continued to keep Panathinaikos ahead (68-69), having a great night. Nunn stepped up at 28′, scoring for 73-76, while Sloukas hit a big 3-pointer just before the end of the third quarter and made free throws to make it 75-81, giving the “triumphant” a significant lead ahead of the final straight.
The final quarter started with a 7-0 run in favor of the hosts, courtesy of Bacon, who put Dubai ahead 82-81, turning the game around in the 32nd minute. After Slouka’s unsportsmanlike play, Dubai made it 86-83, with Hayes-Davis answering from 6.75 to tie the game (86-86) in the 34th minute. Musa hit a three-pointer (89-86), but Nunn and Hayes-Davis kept Panathinaikos ahead again 89-90 at the 36-minute mark. Nunn’s impressive dunk over Anderson’s head made it 89-92, bringing the crowd to its feet. Another crucial three-pointer by Hayes-Davis made it 91-95 with Kabengele responding in kind (94-95). Kendrick Nunn picked it up with a big three-pointer with a minute left to make it 96-102. Hays-Davis followed with a three-pointer off the boards for 98-105 with Musa answering for 102-105 with a three-pointer and foul. It was the American forward’s free throws, however, that sealed the important double-overtime win for Panathinaikos.
The quarters: 26-25, 50-47, 75-81, 104-107
