- Panathinaikos overcomes 14-point deficit to secure victory in Rudy Fernandez’s final game
In an unforgettable EuroLeague showdown, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens overturned a 14-point deficit to claim their 7th EuroLeague title, defeating Real Madrid 95-80. This victory marks a significant milestone in EuroLeague history, especially in what was Rudy Fernandez’s final game before retirement.
- Key highlights and player performances
Kostas Sloukas was the star of the night, scoring 24 points with perfect accuracy (6-6), grabbing 2 rebounds, and providing 3 assists. His outstanding performance earned him the title of Final Four MVP, with a remarkable 31 PIR. Notably, Sloukas has now won the EuroLeague with three different teams, a feat last achieved by Sarunas Jasikevicius.
Captain Kostas Sloukas secured his third EuroLeague crown with a third team, following victories with Olympiakos and Fenerbahce. He led the team with 24 points. Other significant contributions included:
Kendrick Nunn: 21 points
Mathias Lessort: 17 points
Jerian Grant: 11 points
Dinos Mitoglou: 8 points
Juancho Hernangomez: 5 points
Ioannis Papapetrou: 4 points
Luca Vildoza: 3 points
Panos Kalaitzakis: 2 points
Also contributing were Kostas Antetokounmpo, watched by his brother Giannis, and Marius Grigonis.
- Game summary
Score Breakdown: Panathinaikos 95, Real Madrid 80 (25-36, 24-18, 15-7, 31-19).
Earnings: Panathinaikos will receive €1.75 million for their victory, while Real Madrid will receive close to €1 million.
Dedication: Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman dedicated the win to his late father.
- An emotional victory
Most players of the Greens ended the game with tears in their eyes, including coach Ergin Ataman, as Panathinaikos won the EuroLeague for the first time in 13 years. This triumph consolidates their position as one of the most successful European basketball clubs ever.
- First half: Real Madrid sets records
The game began with a flurry of activity as Eli Ndiaye, who averaged just 2.6 points per game, scored two consecutive three-pointers. Real Madrid set a new EuroLeague Final Four record by scoring 36 points in the first quarter, with a combined 61 points by both teams, the most ever in a EuroLeague first quarter.
Despite Mathias Lessort’s 9 points in the second quarter narrowing the deficit to one (48:47), Real Madrid ended the first half with a quick 6:2 run, maintaining their lead.
- Second half: Panathinaikos’ breath-taking turnaround
Real Madrid’s offensive prowess dwindled in the third quarter as they missed all nine of their three-point attempts, scoring just 7 points. This allowed Panathinaikos to gain their first lead of the game.
In the fourth quarter, Real Madrid switched to a zone defense with six minutes remaining, but Panathinaikos exploited this change by targeting Edy Tavares on the perimeter, hitting numerous shots and extending their lead.
- Final moments
Facundo Campazzo fouled out with 2:36 remaining, and with Panathinaikos leading by over 10 points, Real Madrid resorted to intentional fouling. However, Mathias Lessort’s consistent free-throw shooting thwarted their strategy. In the closing minutes, Real Madrid’s desperate shots failed to find the mark, and Panathinaikos secured the championship.
- Olympiakos secures third place
Earlier in the day, Olympiakos clinched third place with an 87-84 win over Fenerbahce. Alec Peters led the Reds with 20 points, supported by Nigel Williams-Goss with 12 points. Despite numerous turnovers and rebounds, Olympiakos’ strong offensive play, particularly with 13 offensive rebounds, ensured their victory.
