With an impressive fightback in the fourth quarter, Panathinaikos turned the tables and defeated Red Star 82-74, staying alive in the battle for the sixth place.
The Greens found themselves chasing the lead for most of the game, as the Serbs were in control from the start, taking advantage of the hosts’ defensive weaknesses and especially the play from the short roll. Cody Miller-McIntyre did an excellent job of organizing the visitors’ game, while Jared Butler provided important scoring solutions.
Despite Jerian Grant’s efforts and a temporary lead (20-19), the Red Star closed the first half at +7 (41-48), with high efficiency and excellent creativity.
The picture did not change immediately in the third quarter, with the guests maintaining control (55-62), but the boos at the “T-Center” served as a wake-up call for Ergyn Ataman’s team.
In the final quarter, Panathinaikos stepped up its performance. Led by Kendrick Nunn and Nigel Hayes-Davis, they ran a 19-3 run, turning a -7 deficit into a +4 (69-65 at 35′).
With big shots and improved defense, the Green and Gold took full control, getting as close as +7 (78-71 at 38′), locking up the win that keeps them in a six-game winning streak.
The quarters: 20-27, 41-48, 55-62, 82-74
