By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Another highly entertaining battle between Valencia Basket and Panathinaikos BC ended up being decided in the closing moments.
After both head coaches, Ergin Ataman and Pedro Martínez, were ejected, the hosts at OAKA Arena managed to trim the deficit and cut it to just three points in the dying moments. However, Panathinaikos failed to convert on the final possession, while Valencia sealed a 91-87 Game 3 victory from the free-throw line to extend the series.
Jean Montero and Brancou Badio paced the visitors with 16 points each, while Taylor contributed 14 points.
T. J. Shorts led Panathinaikos with 17 points, while Nikos Rogkavopoulos added 16 and Nigel Hayes-Davis finished with 15. Kendrick Nunn scored 13 points before fouling out.
Panathinaikos struggled offensively from the opening minutes and spent the entire first half chasing the game, while Valencia repeatedly punished defensive breakdowns and built a double-digit advantage behind efficient ball movement and strong rebounding.
The visitors pushed the lead to as many as 19 points in the third quarter, with Nunn spending long stretches on the bench because of foul trouble. Things became even more heated with 3:08 remaining in the period, when both Ataman and Martínez were ejected after receiving their second technical fouls.
Despite trailing by 16 points entering the final stretch, Panathinaikos responded with a late 9-0 run to make it a one-possession game. Hayes-Davis hit two of three free throws with 20.2 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 90-87, before the hosts forced a turnover on the inbound pass.
However, Rogkavopoulos missed two potential game-tying three-pointers on the final possession, allowing Valencia to escape Athens with a crucial road victory and force Game 4.