Panathinaikos Overpowers Efes 104-89 as Nunn Shines with 36 Points

Panathinaikos secured an impressive 104-89 victory over Anadolu Efes at OAKA, with Kendrick Nunn delivering a stellar performance, scoring 36 points to lead his team to an emphatic win.

Ergin Ataman’s squad improved to a 16-10 record in the EuroLeague, strengthening their push for home-court advantage in the playoffs. The Greens were in excellent form, with Kostas Sloukas (13 points, 9 assists), Dyshawn Pierre (20 points), and Jerian Grant (9 points) providing key contributions. Juancho Hernangómez also made a significant impact with 14 points and 8 rebounds.

For the visitors, standout performances came from Darius Thompson (14 points), Daniel Oturu (13 points), Tyrique Jones (11 points), and Rodrigue Beaubois (11 points), but they were unable to keep up with Panathinaikos’ offensive surge.

Early Struggles and a Strong Response

Efes started the game aggressively, building an 11-point lead as they found success both inside and beyond the arc. Panathinaikos appeared unsettled early on, but quickly found their rhythm thanks to the efforts of Grant, Sloukas, and Pierre. The first quarter ended with Efes leading 21-17.

Grant’s tenacious defense and a series of steals helped ignite the Panathinaikos offense, though Efes remained dangerous from long range. With Oturu dominating inside and Thompson hitting from deep, the Turkish side kept their advantage. However, Sloukas’ leadership proved crucial—his five assists and nine points in the first half helped turn the tide. The Greek powerhouse took their first lead at 43-42 following a basket from Sloukas and finished the half ahead 49-47.

Nunn Takes Over in the Second Half

The second half began with Nunn asserting himself, scoring five consecutive points and a three-pointer from Hernangómez pushing the lead to 57-52. A fast-paced exchange followed, with Efes responding through a 9-0 run to reclaim the lead at 61-64.

A thrilling back-and-forth ensued, with Sloukas and Efes’ Beaubois trading three-pointers. Nunn then caught fire, hitting a string of triples to tie the game at 73-73. The American guard’s free throws ensured Panathinaikos ended the third quarter narrowly ahead at 75-73.

Nunn continued his dominant display in the final period, starting with an impressive drive to push the lead to 77-73. Efes briefly tied the game at 80-80 following baskets from Ercan Osmani and Beaubois, but Panathinaikos responded emphatically. A three-pointer from Pierre, a crucial assist from Sloukas, and yet another deep shot from Nunn put the game out of reach at 92-83.

Pierre sealed the victory with another three-pointer, and Panathinaikos comfortably surpassed the 100-point mark once again at OAKA. The final whistle confirmed a 104-89 triumph, solidifying the Greens’ strong EuroLeague campaign as they continue their march toward the postseason.

Source: pagenews.gr