By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After thrilling final minutes in Game 3, everybody was expecting spectacular action once again in Pionir as Maccabi Tel Aviv led the series 2-1, having the opportunity to make it to the EuroLeague Final Four as 7th-seeded. Instead, Panathinaikos didn’t surrender and won 95-88, forcing Game 5 in OAKA.
Going to the locker room after the second quarter with 16 points, Kendrick Nunn led Panathinaikos in scoring with 27 shooting 6/8 from two and 6/6 at the line. The former Miami Heat and Washington Wizards guard overpassed the 500-point line in his rookie season in the EuroLeague. “It’s a hell of an effort, we have one more game back to OAKA. It’s not going to be easy”, he commented.
After ending Game 3 scoreless for the first time in more than five years, Kostas Sloukas had an outstanding night in Belgrade with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. “Maccabi is an extremely good team, we had to play a physical game. Job is yet to be finished, we have to stay humbled. They deserve to be in this position at 2-2, we have to be ready in front of our fans”, he said after the win.
Battling with Josh Nebo under the rim, Mathias Lessort went close to a double-double at 17 points and 7 rebounds. “We showed great character, it was very difficult. But we came here to win the game and out the series back in OAKA. We must stay calm, Maccabi is very dangerous. In OAKA it will be a great atmosphere. The difference is Kostas Sloukas between these two games”, Ergin Ataman said.
Putting the team on his back after Wade Baldwin IV injured himself at 5:36 minutes in the second, Lorenzo Brown didn’t make a single shot from three (0/6) but still ended with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Bonzie Colson followed with 14 points and 5 rebounds.
David Blatt must have had a big smile on his face as his son Tamir delivered one of his best performances since joining Maccabi Tel Aviv, ending with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. “We had our momentum, we were seven up. In the end, we had few players with a lot of minutes and we were tired, missing open shots. But I’m really proud, we need to keep our heads up”, Oded Kattash said.
Eleven lead changes in a must-watch Game 4
Forced to tie the series at 2-2 to come back to OAKA, Panathinaikos approached the game well and went up by 8 points (20-12) midway through the first quarter. Then, John DiBartolomeo happened with 8 straight points in a little more than one minute, putting Maccabi ahead 29-26.
Going straight to the locker room after injuring himself once more with 5:36 minutes left in the second quarter, Wade Baldwin IV left the game. Taking advantage of Oded Kattash’s first minutes of struggle since turning the game over in the first, Panathinaikos went on a 5-0 run.
After possessions of back-and-forth action, Maccabi was up 50-49 after Kendrick Nunn beat the buzzer off the dribble. Ioannis Papapetrou and Kostas Sloukas opened the third with two straight threes, while Bonzie Colson and Tamir Blatt replied with the same weapons.
Kept in the game despite having four fouls, Dinos Mitoglou was clutch from the corner at 1:38 left in the third. Driving to the lane and getting an extra free throw, Kostas Sloukas followed for the six-point lead (74-68) to put Panathinaikos ahead before the last ten minutes.
However, Maccabi Tel Aviv started the fourth the right way, entering a 10-0 scoring run while also delivering a block from Josh Nebo on the three-point line on Kostas Sloukas. With 7:00 left, Josh Nebo put back a monster dunk, and Jasiel Rivero followed for the 82-75, forcing Ergin Ataman’s timeout.
Coming back to the court, Kendrick Nunn reduced Panathinaikos’ gap to three points (84-81) with 5:04 on the clock. After Antonius Cleveland committed a foul at 2:08 left, Kostas Sloukas gave Panathinaikos another lead at 89-88. The Greek veteran had another clutch shot to put his team up 93-88. Sealing the deal with an explosive alley-oop, Mathias Lessort sent the series back to OAKA.
MAIS SLOUKAAAAAS ENCORE TOI 😱@paobcgr x @EuroLeague#SKWEEKLive #EveryGameMatters #SKWEEK #alwaysON pic.twitter.com/DctQhaCOBR
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) May 2, 2024
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague