Kendrick Nunn broke the deadlock on Wednesday night (1/31), but Panathinaikos AKTOR prevailed 79-62 over Armani Milano to stay on course for the top four in the EuroLeague.
This year’s Panathinaikos AKTOR does not let such opportunities go to waste. And if indeed Armani Milano arrived in Greece in -theoretically- good condition, Ergin Ataman’s team did not leave room for it to claim much on Wednesday night (31/1) at OAKA. The Greens prevailed 79-62 and continue to aim for the top four finish in the EuroLeague regular season which will give them home field advantage in the playoffs of the competition.
Panathinaikos rose to 15-9 (10-3 at home and 5-6 away), in a night in which its defense made the difference. Marius Grigonis and Juancho Hernangometh scored consistently, Luka Vildosa returned after almost a month in the green lineup, Tzerian Grant and Panagiotis Kalaitzakis each did admirably in their respective roles and the away match with Zalgiris Kaunas follows in two nights there will be another “final” of four.
Armani Milano fell to 10-14 (8-5 at home and 2-9 away), which lost even more ground for the top ten and the Play-In positions. There were moments when the Italians seemed to have lost it, they were ineffective, they made poor decisions, they showed a lack of chemistry in their game, with Nikola Mirotic returning after two months and alone troubling the hosts.
Ο MVP
Marius Grigonis, the economical, the efficient, the guarantee. The Lithuanian provided the score his team needed on a night when Kendrick Nunn broke through, Matias Lessor was unable to find space and Dinos Mitoglou had little influence in the Panathinaikos attack. What did Grigonis do? He scored 15 points on seven shots (4/4 2-pointers, 2/3 3-pointers, 1/1 field goal) and looked in great shape for the upcoming matchup with his former team.
The weak link
Who can be singled out from this night of Armani Milano? Nikolos Meli who was disappointing? Shavon Shields, who looked like a low-end player? Napier – McGruder – Law who offered almost nothing to the guards? The image of the Italians was so bad that it is almost impossible to find their weak link.
BASKETBALL
January 31, 2024 23:36
The stats that stood out
7-0 points in the surprise in the first quarter, with Panathinaikos having seven assists and Armani Milano just one. At the end of the night the Italians had 4/21 three-pointers (19%) and just nine final passes for 13 errors, while Kendrick Nunn was 2/13 two-pointers and was the reason the home team remained at 57% in two-pointers. 14-7 points on surprise, 19-13 points from opponent mistakes, 16-12 points from second chances (offensive rebounds).
BASKETBALL
January 31, 2024 23:46
The race
With Grant, Nan, Grigonis, Mitoglou, Lessor, Ataman opened the match, replacing Nan before the three minute mark. Mitoglou nailed with fury for 10-6, the two coaches opened the rotation early and if the greens had no problem with the defensive rebound, the end of the period would have found them in front with a bigger lead (21-16).
Hernangometh and Grigonis increased the difference to ten (29-19) at the beginning of the second, 36-22 at 16′ annoyed Messina who couldn’t believe what he was seeing (6/18 two-pointers, 2/8 three-pointers, 2 assists, 2 errors ), the Lithuanian continued with his foot on the gas and the 44-28 halftime might have flattered the Italians who had 11/34 shooting and just three final passes.
Armani tried to react at the start of the second half, but again Panathinaikos cut their lead and kept the difference above 15. And as much as Nan struggled to find a rhythm, someone came forward to prevent the Italians to believe in the overthrow. In the 35th minute, with the difference at 17 (65-48), Ataman pulled Grigonis to the bench, gave Vildosa time and the crowd left OAKA smiling once more.
THE REFEREES: Yavor, Vilius, Konstantinovs
THE DECADES: 21-16, 44-28, 57-41, 79-62
PANATHINAIKOS (Ataman): Kalaitzakis 10 (5/5 2-pointers, 4 rebounds, 2 steals), Vildosa (0/2 3-pointers), Moraitis 3 (1), Grant 9 (3/5 2-pointers, 1/4 3-pointers, 4 rebounds, 8 assists), Nan 10 (2/13 2-pointers, 1/3 3-pointers, 3/3 shots, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals), Lessor 12 (4/7 2-pointers, 4/8 shots, 7 rebounds, 2 steals , 2 blocks, 2 turnovers), Antetokounmpo 4, Grigonis 15 (4/4 2-pointers, 2/3 3-pointers, 3 rebounds), Hernangomet 12 (2/2 2-pointers, 2/5 3-pointers, 2/2 shots, 4 rebounds, 2 assist), Mitoglou 4 (2/7 shots, 6 rebounds)
ARMANI MILANO (Messina): Lo (0/3 shots, 3 assists, 2 turnovers), McGruder 6 (3/4 2-pointers, 0/3 3-pointers, 0/2 shots, 4 rebounds), Poithres 6 (3/4 2-pointers, 3 rebounds), Meli 4 (2/8 2-pointers), Napier 16 (2/3 2-pointers, 2/7 3-pointers, 6/7 shots), Flacantori, Hall 7 (3/6 shots, 4 rebounds), Shields 6 (2 /9 shots), Mirotic 11 (2), Hines 6 (3/5 2-pointers, 3 rebounds), Vogtman (7 rebounds)
Panathinaikos’ team stats: 24/42 2-pointers, 7/23 3-pointers, 10/15 shots, 40 rebounds (28 defensive – 12 offensive), 20 assists, 9 steals, 3 blocks, 11 errors, 17 fouls
Armani Milano team stats: 19/39 2-pointers, 4/21 3-pointers, 12/17 shots, 35 rebounds (24 defensive – 11 offensive), 9 assists, 6 steals, 1 block, 13 turnovers, 21 fouls
The next matches of the two teams: In the 25th matchday, Panathinaikos will play Zalgiris in Kaunas (2/2 at 20:00), while Armani Milano will face Anadolu Efes in Istanbul (2/2 at 19:30).