The return of the Euroleague after a two-week break did not sit well with Real Madrid. The whites suffered their first defeat at home in the continental competition after winning their first 13 games. They were inferior to Panathinaikos (86-97) and could not certify their mathematical classification for the playoffs. It is a matter of time before they do it, but the setback is a warning about their own game and that of the Greeks, one of the fittest teams in Europe.
Datasheet
- 86 – Real Madrid (24+12+25+25): Campazzo (9), Causeur (13), Abalde (6), Yabusele (18), Tavares (10), -starting quintet-, Musa (16), Rodríguez (2), Poirier (-), Llull (-), Deck (-) and Hezonja (12).
- 97 – Panathinaikos Aktor Athens (18+27+22+30): Nunn (17), Grant (4), Grigonis (11), Mitoglou (8), Lessort (26) -equipo inicial-, Balcerowski (2), Sloukas (16), Juancho Hernangómez (6), Papapetrou (7).
- Referees: Matej Boltauzer (Slovenia), Emin Mogulkoc (Turkey) and Joseph Bissang (France). They excluded Nunn for five personal fouls (min.37).
- Incidents: Matchday 27 of the Euroleague played at the WiZink Center in Madrid. In the previous round, the Bosnian Dznan Musa received the award that accredits him as MVP of the competition in January. In addition, Real Madrid offered its fans the Copa del Rey trophy won in Malaga and the best player of the tournament, which was received by the Argentine Facundo Campazzo.
A statistic marked the clash: 19 balls lost by Madrid, translated into 22 points for Panathinaikos. From there, the Hellenes began to grow, flying on the counterattack and with Lessort as the only participant in a dunk contest. The Frenchman went on to destroy the white ring, almost starring alone in a Top 10. He finished with 26 points despite having Tavares and Poirier in front of him, the best pair of centers on the continent. Improved the first with respect to the Cup. An unrecognizable version of the second. Like Deck’s. Fundamental in the cup final, both to zero on this occasion.
But Panathinaikos was more than the forcefulness of its interior. Sloukas led to avenge last year’s final (16 points and six assists), Nunn showed his offensive quality (17 points), Grigonis and Mitoglou They had a leading role in the last quarter and even Juancho (six points) had good minutes… even if he scored an own basket.
Madrid moved in impulses, almost always depending on whether they lost more or fewer balls. Enjoyed a nine-point cushion (22-13) with the points of Yabusele, the best of the locals with 18 pointsand the triples of Abalde and Causeur. At the end of the first quarter, the lead was six (24-18) with Hezonja and Juancho on the court and paired. The Spanish forward collaborated in the Greeks’ reaction with a comfortable tackle and a dunk. It was the anticipation of the defensive fall of the whites, which they received 27 points in the second quarter.
A turnover machine
In attack they were a turnover machine. At half-time they had already sent 13 to limbo and Panathinaikos took advantage of them to fly on the counterattack to the rhythm of Sloukas against the terrible defensive balance of his rival. Lessort hammered mercilessly. Madrid, from that distant +9 received a partial score of 10-30. Mateo called a timeout, made a triple change that took an (once again) annoying Hezonja off the track… Nothing worked. The Madridistas scored two baskets in almost 10 minutes. They held on to the free throws so as not to sink further, but At halftime it was 36-45 after a basket by Nunn.
Madrid’s exit from the locker room was a stampede. First, Hezonja. After, Talker. Later, It was left over. A partial of 16-5 in just over four minutes put them ahead (52-50), making up for his terrible second quarter. But the losses returned. Three in a row and Lessort punishing once again distanced Panathinaikos. Mateo put Yabusele, Deck and Hezonja at the same time. It also didn’t have the desired effect. Nunn scored again at the buzzer. This time, a triple for 61-67.
Musa led the whites at the beginning of the last quarter, scoring 11 points in a row. Mitoglou scored seven in a row in a particular duel that equalized the clash (72-73). But the Hellenes appeared more effective when push came to shove. Sloukas, with eight points in a row; and Grigoniswith a pair of free throws, a triple and an assist to Lessort to finish the umpteenth counterattack with a dunk after a Madrid loss (80-90). The story of the night. The locals, already with Campazzo and Tavares’ foul problems, even missed the only free throw of the match (19/20 and 13/13) while looking for a comeback. There wasn’t. The WiZink Center, until now impregnable, fell. The ticket to the playoffs will have to wait. Panathinaikos commands respect.
2024-02-29 21:57:10
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