Panathinaikos AKTOR has picked up speed and isn’t stopping

Panathinaikos threw a party at the Telekom Center Athens and crushed Partizan 91–69, reaching four consecutive EuroLeague wins and catching Hapoel Tel Aviv at the top of the standings!

Panathinaikos AKTOR has picked up speed and isn’t stopping! Ergin Ataman’s team swept Partizan 91–69 in a packed “Telekom Center Athens” for Round 13 of the EuroLeague, rose to 9–4 with its fourth straight win, and climbed to the top, tied with Hapoel Tel Aviv!

With the exception of the first quarter—during which the “Greens” played very passive defense and conceded 31 points (27–31)—the rest of the game belonged entirely to the hosts, who did whatever they wanted on the court and earned their easiest victory of the season.

It is characteristic that Panathinaikos ran a 25–0 partial score from the middle of the third quarter to the beginning of the fourth, turning 52–50 into 77–50 and essentially ending the game, making the final minutes a mere formality.

The top performer for the winners was Kendrick Nunn with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 9 fouls drawn, and 39 PIR, while Kostas Sloukas was outstanding once again with 7 points and 10 assists. Nikos Rogkavopoulos added 13 points in what was likely his best performance of the season.

They weren’t the only standouts for Panathinaikos, as Kenneth Faried contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds. Tremendous work also came from Juancho Hernangómez with 8 points and 15 rebounds. For the losing side, which fell to 4–9 and continues to disappoint, Sterling Brown had 16 points.

In Round 14, Panathinaikos will host Valencia (5/12, 21:15) at the “Telekom Center Athens.”

The first basket of the game came from Sterling Brown with a layup (0–2), with Juancho answering after a nice assist from Shorts for 2–2. Marinković scored after a good Partizan possession, and Nunn responded from the line for 4–4. Fernando dunked impressively (4–6), while Grant hit from his preferred midrange for 6–6. Pokusevski and Shorts exchanged baskets, and Faried threw down a strong dunk for 10–8. Fernando dunked again unchallenged (10–10), and Brown gave the visitors the lead again with a three-pointer (10–13). He scored again from the corner (12–16), with Mitoglou and Faried bringing Panathinaikos back within striking distance with a three and a dunk (17–18). Brown continued his excellent game, and Parker added a three of his own for 21–26. Partizan closed the first quarter ahead 27–31, taking advantage of the hosts’ lukewarm defense.

The second quarter began with a give-and-go assist from Sloukas to Mitoglou (29–31), before Washington made a very tough shot for 29–33. After a Sloukas turnover, Jones dunked for the Serbians’ +6 (29–35), but Panathinaikos quickly found points through Rogkavopoulos and Nunn, closing in again (33–35). Sloukas tied the game with two free throws (35–35), but the visitors again went up by four (35–39) with Brown and Washington. Grant finished in transition (37–39), and Nunn hit a three to give Panathinaikos the lead at 40–39. He then scored a floater after another good defensive stop (42–39), before delivering a brilliant assist to Faried for 46–41. Fernando provided relief for Partizan with an and-one (46–44), and Rogkavopoulos made it 48–44 at halftime.

In the second half, Pokusevski scored after a Nunn turnover (48–46), before Faried grabbed an offensive rebound after a missed free throw for 50–46. Fernando dunked to cut it to 50–48, and Nunn scored in transition to make it 52–48. Sloukas continued his creative… spree with assists to Faried and Hernangómez (56–50), before Nunn scored a tough basket on the break for 58–50. The EuroLeague MVP caught fire and hit back-to-back three-pointers (64–50), with Sloukas and Mitoglou pushing the lead to +20 (70–50). The captain of the “Greens” made it 73–50 with a buzzer-beating three, as Panathinaikos closed the third quarter on a 21–0 run.

The fourth quarter began as the third ended, with Panathinaikos essentially playing alone, stretching the lead to +27 (77–50). Partizan scored for the first time in about nine minutes with two free throws from Parker, who also made it 79–54 with a layup. Rogkavopoulos hit a transition three (82–54), with the pace dropping afterward and Partizan trimming the deficit slightly with Bonga and Milton (85–64). Samonturov converted a tough and-one (88–64), and Shorts hit a three for 91–64. After the routine final seconds, Panathinaikos secured the win.

Quarter scores: 27–31, 48–44, 73–50, 91–69.