Maccabi, who led the whole match, squandered the advantage and won only after L. Brown’s free throws

Maccabi Tel Aviv is at home in the third match of the Euroleague quarter-finals 85:83 (23:11, 23:26, 21:19, 18:27) after a dramatic fight broke the team of “Panathinaikos” of Athens with Marius Grigonis.

The Israeli club, which has not yet had Wade Baldwin, leads 2-1 in the 3-game winning streak and will host their opponents again in Belgrade on Thursday.

Maccabi, who started the match well, immediately jumped ahead – 9:2. “Panathinaikos” came close (11:13), but then the hosts did not miss a single point in the remaining 4 minutes, scored 10 without an answer and had a double-digit gap after the first quarter – 23:11.

After 3.5 minutes passed in the second quarter, the Greek club got closer to 21:28, but Maccabi quickly regained its advantage – 32:21. PAO once again returned to 7 points (29:36), but the successful section of the Israeli team increased the difference between the clubs to 46:31. After hitting two three-pointers in the remaining time, “Panathinaikos” finished the first part of the duel trailing 37:46.

After the big break, the scene on the court did not change – Maccabi basketball players continued to control the situation. In the 24th minute, the advantage of the hosts reached a record limit – 18 points – 57:39. “Panathinaikos” did not break down and managed to play well at the end of the half when they scored 9 points without reply in the last 3 minutes and reduced the deficit to 56:64. In the last seconds, Lorenzo Brown hit a three-pointer and gave his team some breathing room – 67:56.

After 1.5 minutes passed in the last half, PAO got closer to 6 points (63:69), but a few minutes later, Maccabi had already doubled its gap – 78:65. With less than 4 minutes remaining, the deficit of the guests reached 11 points, but then they went on a decisive attack and got closer to 79-81 after a 9-0 period. Although Bonzie Colson hit a two-pointer (83-79), Kendrick Nunn answered with a three-pointer with 76 seconds left – 82-83. That was not all – after Panathinaikos defended, Mathias Lessort equalized the result with a free throw – 83:83. During a crucial Maccabi attack, L. Brown’s shot was initially awarded, but after a review by the referees, the decision was reversed and the teams had to fight for the ball. He was caught by “Maccabi” and with 2.6 seconds left he was fouled by L. Brown, who threw both penalties. K. Nunn could have snatched the victory, but his three-pointer did not reach the goal.

M. Grigonis scored 2 points in 9 minutes (1/1 two-pointers, 0/3 three-pointers), made 2 assists, violated the rules 2 times and collected -1 utility score.

Maccabi: Josh Nebo 22 (9 rpg, 31 rpg), Lorenzo Brown 16 (8 rpg), Bonzie Colson 13 (5 rpg), James Webb and Jasiel Rivero 8 each.

Panathinaikos: Kendrick Nunn 25 (4/13 2-pointers, 5/8 3-pointers), Ioannis Papapetrou 17 (3/3 3-pointers, 6 rebounds), Mathias Lessort 14 (6 rebounds, 5 assists, 31 assists) points), Konstantinos Mitoglou 10, Luca Vildoza 9 (3/4 three-pointers).

“Long break”: Pasval’s future, Antetokounmpo’s approach to basketball, the “culprits” of “Lietkabel”, a question mark about “Šiauliai” Lithuanians, commendable work of “Nevėžys”, Kosticius who earned a contract and a reflection of the work of CBet’s management