Return to victories with a… walk for Panathinaikos AKTOR!
The “Greens” did not face any problems at all and defeated Armani Milan 79-62 in OAKA, moving up to 15-9 and continuing their path to the Euroleague’s top four!
It was only in the first quarter that the Italians were able to put up any resistance to Ergyn Ataman’s team, although even then the hosts were constantly in the lead. From the second quarter, the difference went into double digits and never fell, with Panathinaikos AKTOR celebrating one of the easiest wins of the season.
The game
Panathinaikos AKTOR came out with a running game and found a three-pointer in the fast break on Grant, while Shields put Armani on the board from close range for a 3-2 lead. The start of both teams was quite nervous with missed shots and turnovers, with Armani tying the game at 4-4 thanks to Mellie. Grant put the hosts ahead from mid-range, while Kalaitzakis scored a layup and then created a steal of his own and an assist for Mitoglou, making the score 10-6 within seconds. The young guard/forward gave the Ataman team a boost, and he scored again from close range for the double score (12-6). Mirotic entered the game and scored from close range, but Mitoglou answered for 14-8. Grigonis scored after a smart putback, while Nunn scored a foul to make it 19-10. Mirotic hit a three-pointer in great style, followed by a free throw, to cut the lead to 19-14, while a visit to the line by Nunn brought the score to 21-14. Hall scored an elaborate layup to make it 21-16 in the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, Marius Grigonis scored a tough layup from close range, while Juancho hit a three-pointer from the top of the key for the first double-digit lead of the game (26-16). Mirotic answered right back, but Grigonis took over… and found the mark from long range to make it 29-19. Juancho was hot and found the target again from 6.75m, making it 32-20 with great psychology, and shortly afterwards he found the target again from mid-range for 34-22. Nunn and Napier traded shots from close range, while Lesor went to the line and made one shot to make it 37-24. Juancho was unstoppable and made a tough layup, while Grigonis stole and hit a foul shot to make it 42-24. Antetokounmpo and Poythres exchanged layups for 44-28, the score that ended the first half.
With the “good evening” of the second half, Lesor stole on one side and made a shot on the other for a 45-28 lead. Hall closed the gap with a tough layup, while the French center went back to the line for a 46-30 lead. Napier cut the difference even further with a nice foul (46-33), while Poythres continued the guests’ response with a dunk to make it 46-35. Antetokounmpo made a layup and Grigonis hit a three-pointer to put the hosts back on track (49-35), while the Greek center secured an offensive rebound and Grant scored twice from mid-range to make it 53-35. The Italians showed a reaction again with free throws by Mirotic and floater McGruder (53-39), but Kalaitzakis sent Montenegro into the air and scored to make it 55-39, before Antetokounmpo dunked in front of him for a 57-41 third quarter lead.
In the final quarter, Shields cut the deficit with a floater and Hines scored from close range to make it 59-45. Grigonis gave the hosts a solution with a floater, while Lesor turned around nicely and scored to make it 63-46. Shields cut the difference with free throws, but the excellent Kalaitzakis immediately restored it with an offensive rebound and a basket to make it 65-48. The gap began to slip away, with Lesor nailing an impressive dunk and Nan scoring a three, signing the score at 72-50. The French center was the recipient of a long pass and nailed the ball in the blindside, stirring up the OAKA, while from then on there was little time to change anything.
The quarters: 21-16, 44-28, 57-41, 79-62
