By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With the Greeks fighting for the best possible spot for the playoffs, the 83-82 win over Unics gives them a chance to continue their push for the home court advantage as they chase Fenerbahce and Olympiacos.
After ten minutes of action and despite a good start by the hosts, Unics Kazan had a 25-24 lead behind 9 points by Keith Langford and 8 points by Latavious Williams. The Greens got the lead back thanks to 10 point by Alessandro Gentile at the start of the second period (26-25) but at half time the guests had a 7 points advantage (46-39) with Langford having 13 points and 7 assists.
Unics led by nine (61-52) with 10 minutes left, as Langford already had 20 points, while Panathinaikos’ defense could not stop him. This finally happened in the first five minutes of the last quarter as the hosts thanks to a 13-4 run tied the score at 65.
Still the answer of Unics Kazan came in the form of two big threes by Quino Colom (71-65) and the guests kept the lead until 28 seconds before the end of the game (80-79) as Chris Singleton made it a one point game and both Langford and Williams failed to score in the following play. Singleton tied the score at 80 with one made free throw and Unics had the ball and 14 seconds on the clock.
Williams was fouled, he made two free throws (82-80), seven seconds were left for Panathinaikos and James who had in total just 8 points saved the day! Ioannis Bourousis with 15 points was the top scorer of the winners, while the big night of Langford (21 p.) and Colom (17 p.) was not enough.