Anadolu Efes hand Panathinaikos 2nd EuroLeague defeat of season

By Halis Sunnetci

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish basketball team Anadolu Efes handed EuroLeague leaders Panathinaikos their second defeat of the season Friday, securing an 83-68 home victory in Round 9 of the competition.

Efes controlled much of the game before holding off a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by the Greek visitors, who saw their lowest-scoring performance of the season.

Efes made a strong offensive start, taking a 17-9 lead midway through the opening quarter before Panathinaikos tightened their defense to narrow the deficit to 21-18.

The hosts regained control in the second quarter, stretching their advantage to 12 points at 39-27 before heading into halftime with a 45-37 lead.

Both teams struggled offensively in the third period, particularly from the three-point range, but Efes maintained their advantage to enter the final quarter 61-51 ahead.

Panathinaikos opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to three points at 61-58, but Efes quickly responded with five unanswered points.

The Greek side fought back again, with Kendrick Nunn scoring five consecutive points to bring the visitors within three at 66-63.

Panathinaikos then reduced the deficit to a single point at 66-65, but Efes responded with a decisive 14-0 run to establish their biggest lead of the game at 80-65 with 2:30 remaining.

The hosts kept control in the closing minutes to seal an 83-68 victory.

Colin Malcolm and Bruno Fernando led Efes with 15 points each, while Cameron Payne added 14, including nine in the final quarter.

Dario Saric racked up a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Nunn was the game's leading scorer with 17 points for Panathinaikos, while Nigel Hayes-Davis contributed 11.

The victory improved Anadolu Efes' record to 4-5, while Panathinaikos dropped to 7-2 after suffering their second defeat in nine EuroLeague games.

Halis Sünnetci