Panathinaikos lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv in overtime by 86-81 on their home court in the fourth round of the EuroLeague.
In a dramatic game at the half-empty OAKA arena, Panathinaikos faced off against Maccabi. The match resembled the one between Olympiacos and Partizan played the previous night. The home team, after the ejection of Ergin Ataman, managed to come back from a deficit, even taking the lead towards the end, with Josh Nebo securing the overtime.
In the extra five minutes, Maccabi’s better performance led them to victory, led by Bonzie Colson with 21 points and John Dibartolomeo contributing 15. For the home team, Luca Vildoza scored 15, Marius Grigonis had 13, and Mathias Lessort added 12 points.
In the next round, Maccabi will travel to Monaco, while Panathinaikos will host Baskonia at home.
Maccabi had a better start in the first quarter. They began the game well and, led by Bonzie Colson, built a significant lead of 15-9. By the end of the quarter, during which Colson scored nine points, Maccabi had a 20-15 lead.
In the second quarter, Kostas Antetokounmpo dominated, particularly on the defensive end with a couple of blocks and an impressive dunk on a fast break, which brought the home team closer at 26-20. However, Maccabi’s three-point shooting was on point, with John Dibartolomeo hitting his third three-pointer, and Lorenzo Brown scoring on a fast break, giving the visitors a double-digit lead at 31-20.
At halftime, they had a comfortable 15-point lead, with a score of 39-24.
In the third quarter, there was a fierce battle, and in the heat of it, the home team’s coach Ergin Ataman was ejected after receiving his second technical foul. His ejection was expected to elicit a reaction from his players, and it did. They managed to cut the deficit to 47-41. Then, sparks flew after a confrontation between Grigonis and Colson. The home team capitalized on the tension, with a three-pointer by Grigonis, closing in at 52-47. A crucial three-pointer at the end of the third quarter by Lorenzo Brown gave Maccabi a 57-49 lead.
The final quarter witnessed great drama. The home team gradually closed the gap, and after Konstantinos Mitoglou’s basket, they took their first lead of the game at 67-66. Josh Nebo responded, giving the lead back to Maccabi. Then, Luca Vildoza made a three-pointer, but Colson answered to tie the game at 70-70. Later, Lessort made only one free throw for a 71-70 score.
Then, Sokrini missed a shot, and the home team grabbed the rebound. Maccabi players fouled after a delay of about ten seconds, and there were only seven seconds left on the clock. Mitoglou made only one free throw, and then during Lessort’s jump, he fouled, and Roman Sorkin had free throws on the other end. He missed the first intentionally, and on the rebound, Nebo tied the game at 4.8 seconds remaining. Vildoza attempted a one-legged three-pointer but missed, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra five minutes, Maccabi created a gap at 80-75, which they maintained until the end to secure the victory. Antonius Cleveland was the X-factor with steals and offensive rebounds. Tamir Blat made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining, extending Maccabi’s lead to 82-79. On the other end, Kostas Sloukas drew a foul on Jasiel Rivero, resulting in three free throws. He made two. Brown made both free throws on the other end for an 84-81 lead, securing the victory for Maccabi.
PANATHINAIKOS – MACCABI TEL AVIV 81:86 (15:20, 9:19, 25:18, 23:15, 9:14)
Arena: OAKA, Athens
Referees: Lottermoser, Nikolic, Peerandi
Panathinaikos: Kalaitzakis 2, Vildoza 15, Guy , Moraitis, Balcerowski, Sloukas 9, Grant 8, Lessort 12, Antetokounmpo 10, Grigonis 13, Hernangomez 1, Mitoglu 11, Mantzoukas .
Maccabi Tel Aviv: Cleveland 7, Webb , Brown 12, Menco , Sorkin 4, Dibartolomeo 15, Cohen 3, Rivero , Nebo 12, Blatt 12, Colson 21