He faced several difficulties against the fighting PAOK, but in the end Panathinaikos AKTOR found the solutions and celebrated the victory with 97-85continuing his undefeated streak (10-0) in this year’s Stoiximan Basket League.
The Thessalonikians made it difficult for Ataman’s team, making an impressive first half, when they were firmly in the lead, but the “greens” found a rhythm in the second half and, although they saw PAOK come back from -16 and reduce it to 80-77, 5 minutes before the final, they finally reached victory, returning to positive results after defeats to Efes and Real Madrid.
Top for the winners are Mitoglou (19p, 10rb), Nan (21p with 3/4 threes, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) and Sloukas (11 points, 9 assists), while for PAOK, which after tonight’s defeat fell to 5-5, stood out Alston (18p, 6 rib), Gilmore (14p, 6 rib) and Fredrickson (15 points, 11 assists).
For Panathinaikos AKTOR, the home match against Villerban (14/12, 22:00) for the 14th matchday of the Euroleague, while PAOK will travel to Belgrade, where they will face Hapoel Jerusalem (13/12, 19:30), for the Basketball Champions League.
The match
Ataman chose to start the match with Vildoza, Nan, Kalaitzaki, Mitoglou and Antetokounmpo, who decided not to include Grigonis in his starting line-up, in addition to Hwatso, Papapetrou, while Takianos chose Fridriksson, Beliauskas, Arsenopoulos, Gilmore and Alston, not having Harrison available. Mitoglou and Nan gave Panathinaikos a quick lead (4-0), while Gilmore started the match “hot” for PAOK, scoring 8 points in a row for 5-8! Antetokounmpo was getting the most “green” attacks, reaching 5 and reducing to 10-11, but in the very next phase he became a poster by Gilmore, in the most impressive phase of the match, for 10-13! The guests continued to be highly competitive, maintaining a small lead, while o Mitoglou reached 7 points, dropping to 17-18. However, Panathinaikos was not good offensively and scored mainly from shots, with PAOK closing the first period in front with 22-17!
In fact, the visitors took their biggest lead of the match (+9, 17-26) with baskets by Margaret and Tsaireli at the beginning of the second quarter, while at that point he took action for Panathinaikos Nan, scoring back-to-back points to make it 25-31. However, the PAOK he remained ahead with “safety” differences, finding a new protagonist in his face Alston, while the first half ended with Panathinaikos finding a rhythm for the first time, making an 11-2 run and taking the lead after a long time. THE Grantwho played despite the tendinitis that plagued him, put the “greens” ahead after a long time (45-42), before Beliauskas equate to 45-45 with a buzzer-beater three-pointer!
Clearly improved on both sides of the floor from the start of the second quarter and then Panathinaikoswent on a quick 7-0 run with Kalaitzakis, Balcherovski and his three-pointer Sluka, rising for the first time to +6 (52-46). PAOK blocked offensively while Ataman’s team found a rhythm, Nan reached 17 with 3/3 three-pointers and the streak reached 21-5, for 66-50! By Tsaireli to reach 13 personal points, the guests came close to 8 (70-62), but the excellent tonight for the “greens”, Mitogloureached 16 along with 7 rebounds, shaping the 74-62 of the third period.
The fourth period started with the impressive Alston to reach 18 personal points, reducing with three points to 80-74 for PAOK, while the Fredrickson completed his double-double with points and assists, making it with a basket and a foul 80-77. At that point in the match, Ataman took a time-out and his team returned determined to the court, with Bulldozer hit a three-pointer for 85-80 and with the streak in favor of the “greens” reaching 15-2for the final 97-85!
The quarters: 17-22, 45-45, 74-62, 97-85
The match statistics
The Live of sport-fm.gr
Source: Sport Fm
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