Panathinaikos 90-89 Barça: Defeat away at the Champions
Another defeat for Barça in the Euroleague as they lost 90-89 in the OAKA Arena in Athens against Panathinaikos. The current Euroleague champions took victory in the final seconds with 29 points from Kendrick Nunn decisive in defeating Joan Peñarroya's team.
Panathinaikos start strongly
The home started the better of the two teams in Athens and a run of seven unanswered points gave them a 13-6 lead with six minutes gone. Nevertheless, contributions from Juan Núñez, Jabari Parker and Justin Anderson saw Barça come back to level it up at 19-19. Two three pointers from Kendrick Nunn gave Panathinaikos a 25-19 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter Barça slowly reduced the Greek side's lead before a basket from Satoransky put the blaugranes ahead for the first time at 34-33. It took another score from Nunn to bring Panathinaikos level at 45-45 at half time.
A run of 10 points without replay saw Barça take a seven point lead at 58-51 in the second half, and that lead went out to 11 at 66-55 following a three point play from Abrines. However, once again Nunn dragged his team back into the contest and the blaugranes led by six at 69-63 going into the final quarter.
Nunn takes control
Two three pointers from American Nunn brought the home side level at 69-69. Shortly after the Greeks led by six at 77-71 with the balance shifting to the Euroleague champions. Juan Núñez and Kevin Punter brought the blaugranes to 84-84 with just two minutes left. Nunn took control again to make it 89-86 but another three from the free thrown line from Abrines made it all square. A foul on Panathinaikos' Lessort saw the Frenchman score one of two free throws with seconds remaining to hand the Greeks a 90-89 win.
Barça now have a 7-6 record in this season's Euroleague and are in action again on Thursday when they face Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Belgrade.
MATCH STATS
PANATHINAIKOS, 90
BARÇA, 89
Panathinaikos: Kalaitzakis (-), Brown (19), Grant (8), Lessort (16), Hernangómez (4) -starting five- Sloukas (6), Osman (-), Nunn (29), Mitoglou (9), Yurtseven (-).
Barça: Satoransky (6), Punter (6), Abrines (13), Parker (15), Vesely (7) -starting five- Anderson (8), Sarr (-), Hernangómez (6), Núñez (19), Parra (4).
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