Panathinaikos broke a long-standing curse in Vitoria on Thursday night, edging Baskonia 86–84 behind a last-second jumper from reigning EuroLeague MVP Kendrick Nunn.
The victory marked Panathinaikos’s first win in the Basque Country since 2017, ending a seven-game losing streak against Baskonia. For Nunn, who was still in college during that last win, the performance cemented his growing legend in Europe.
The 30-year-old guard delivered another stellar display, scoring 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting along with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block. His decisive jumper at the buzzer sealed the Greens’ second win of the season, improving their record to 2–1.
Panathinaikos started strong, taking a 42–36 lead into halftime after Nunn fueled a balanced first half with 7 early points. However, Baskonia fought back in the third quarter, opening with a 7–0 run to grab a brief 43–42 lead — its only advantage of the night.
Nunn immediately responded with 9 straight points, restoring control and helping the visitors build a double-digit cushion at 60–49. Still, the hosts refused to fold.
An 11–2 surge in the closing minute brought Baskonia level at 84–84, reviving memories of past heartbreaks for the Greek champions. But Nunn’s mid-range jumper over two defenders silenced the Buesa Arena crowd and handed Ergin Ataman’s side a dramatic victory.
Juancho Hernangómez followed up his 27-point performance against Barcelona with a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Cedi Osman added 20 points in another efficient showing. The trio combined for 65 of Panathinaikos’s 86 points.
Baskonia, now 0–3, showed grit throughout, with Hamidou Diallo and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot each scoring 15 points. Despite their late rally, the Basques could not prevent another narrow loss in front of their home crowd.
Panathinaikos dominated the glass 44–40 and shot 50 percent from inside the arc. The win not only boosted their confidence early in the season but also reinforced their ambitions ahead of the 2026 Final Four, which will be hosted in Athens.
