By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikos Pappas scored the 12 out of his 16 points team-high in the fourth quarter as Panathinaikos beat a Spanoulis-less Olympiacos 84 – 80 in Game 2 of the series.
This was the first home game Panathinaikos wins in the Greek Finals since 2014 since their had been beaten by their arch rivals in the 2015 and 2016 title series matches.
With great percentages from the perimeter (8/15 in the end) and a balanced offensive game, the Greens were already ahead 59 – 53 heading to the final period of the game but their tenacious opponents led by Erick Green (21 points) and Giorgos Printezis (15 points, 6 rebounds) were always in hot pursuit.
A basket plus foul won by Pappas gave his team a seven-point lead, 78 – 71 with 2:21 remaining but Oly responded with a 0-5 run. Mike James dropped an acrobatic lay-up and then a 4/4 combination from the line by Nick Calathes and Pappas sealed the final outcome.