In a thrilling Euroleague matchup, Panathinaikos suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Anadolu Efes at OAKA, losing 76-79 and evening the series at 1-1.

The game was intense from the start, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. However, in the closing moments, it was the critical plays that made all the difference. With just seconds left on the clock, Panathinaikos’ Nann missed a crucial three-point shot, sealing their fate.

Match Highlights:

• The final score was 76-79 in favor of Efes.
• Larkin was pivotal for Efes, sinking both of his free throws as the game came to a close.
• With only three seconds remaining in the game, Nann attempted a three-pointer but couldn’t convert, dashing the hopes of the home crowd.

The match saw numerous lead changes, with Efes taking the first lead of the game with a three-pointer from Larkin, which stunned the home crowd at OAKA. As the clock moved closer to the end, Larkin continued to deliver for Efes, tying the game at critical moments.

Key Moments:

• With less than a minute to play, Larkin’s impressive performance kept Efes in contention and eventually gave them the edge they needed.
• A technical foul on Grant allowed Larkin to score an additional point, adding to Panathinaikos’ woes.
• A buzzer-beater by Sloukas at the end of the third quarter had given Panathinaikos a 10-point lead, showcasing their potential before the fourth quarter’s collapse.

Despite a strong showing by Panathinaikos, including clutch shots and a valiant effort throughout the match, their inability to close out the game proved costly. Anadolu Efes capitalized on the critical mistakes, turning the tide in their favor during the final moments.

As the series stands tied at 1-1, the teams will look ahead to their next encounter with high stakes, as both will aim to gain the upper hand in this closely contested Euroleague matchup. Fans can expect even more excitement as the pressure mounts in the next games of the series.

Panathinaikos is set to host Anadolu Efes at 21:30 at OAKA, aiming to double their wins in the EuroLeague playoffs and get closer to the Final Four. The match will be broadcast live on Novasports Prime

In the second act between Panathinaikos and Efes, the “Greens” managed to secure a hard-fought 1-0 lead in the series, thanks to a stellar performance from Juancho Hernangomez. They now see a significant opportunity to gain an important advantage on the road to the Final Four in Abu Dhabi.

Tonight, Panathinaikos welcomes the former team of Ergin Ataman to a sold-out OAKA, with a victory bringing them to 2-0 in the EuroLeague playoffs. They will need just one more win to advance to the Final Four, although the series will continue next Wednesday in Istanbul.

Ataman’s team is expected to field no surprises, having all their “weapons” at their disposal: Brown, Sloukas, Nunn, Grant, Kalaitzakis, Samontourov, Osman, Hernangomez, Mitoglou, Pleiss, Yurtseven, Gabriel.

It’s worth noting that Ioannis Papapetrou remains sidelined due to an ankle sprain, along with the known absentees Marius Grigonis and Mathias Lessort.

For Luka Banki’s team, the twelve available players are: Larkin, Bryant, Thompson, Dozier, Nwora, Smits, Osman, Willis, Yilmaz, Poirier, Otuoru, and Ozdemiroglu.

The Turkish coach spoke about the challenges of this series, emphasizing that Kendrick Nunn will perform much better compared to the first game.

“Kendrick is an excellent player. Sometimes he may miss shots and make mistakes, but that’s normal. However, a player like Nunn shouldn’t be stressed because he won the MVP award. We saw in the last period he found his rhythm. Tomorrow he will play better. But we have to respect Efes’ defense against him,” Ataman stated among other comments.