By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet could finish at the 8th spot in case of a road win in Athens.
Panathinaikos had already locked the 3rd spot and probably had less motivation.
Still, when it was all done and said after overtime, the defending champions got the 111-104 win behind 31 points and 10 assists by Kendrick Nunn.
With this performance, Nunn secured the Alphonso Ford trophy, becoming the first Panathinaikos player to win the EuroLeague’s top scorer award.
“This is the Kendrick Nunn season”, he said, speaking to NOVA TV after the game. “I feel great being in the playoffs. I have great confidence for myself and my teammates, and I am ready for this”.
Juancho Hernangomez had 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Wenyen Gabriel added 16 points, and Jerian Grant had 12.
Codi Miller-McIntyre had 26 points but didn’t score after the third period, while Nemanja Nedovic added 22, scoring just one point in the last 15 minutes of the game.
Win in overtime
Panathinaikos started the game with an 18-11 lead, however, Zvezda was up by three (26-23) after the end of the first period, with Miller-McIntyre already scoring 14 points in nine minutes and Filip Petrusev making a three at the buzzer.
The Serbs even led 49-47 at halftime, and the score was tied at 77 after the third period, with Miller-McIntyre scoring 26 points in 25 minutes, while Nedovic added 21, and on the other side, Nunn had 19.
Zvezda managed to get an eight-point lead (94-86) with three minutes left. But one and a half minutes later, after a three by Nunn and one by Juancho, Panathinaikos trailed by just two (94-92).
Kostas Sloukas was fouled and tied the score with two free throws.
Nikola Kalinic gave Zvezda the lead again (96-94), and with 24 seconds left, Juancho again tied the score (96-96) with a big shot while stepping on the three-point line.
Zvezda couldn’t score in the end and the result was overtime. The two teams continued to walk side by side until Nunn dished his 10th assist, and Gabriel scored for the 108-104.
In the next possession, Luka Mitrovic missed two free throws, Jerian Grant made a three (111-104), and the game was decided.
Photo credit: EuroLeague