Panathinaikos (4-1) continued its rise to the top of the EuroLeague standings with a convincing 95–81 win over Anadolu Efes (2-3) on Friday night, fueled by a career-high performance from Cedi Osman.
The Turkish forward exploded for 29 points against his former club, hitting 6 of 10 from beyond the arc and scoring 19 in the second half as the Greens earned their third straight victory.
Panathinaikos dominated the game’s final stretch after a tight first half. Efes had closed within 52–57 midway through the third quarter, but that’s when veteran guard Kostas Sloukas found Osman for his third three-pointer, sparking a 16–0 run. The visitors’ lead ballooned to 21 points, silencing the Istanbul crowd.
Sloukas orchestrated the offense masterfully, finishing with 12 assists — just one shy of his career high — while Omer Yurtseven added 15 points and Richaun Holmes chipped in 10. The Greens finished with 27 assists as a team and shot 65.8% on two-pointers.
Meanwhile, Panathinaikos barely needed a contribution from MVP Kendrick Nunn, who had an off night with just 2 points and 4 turnovers before sitting most of the second half.
For Efes, Shane Larkin led the way with 18 points and 5 assists, while PJ Dozier added 15 and Jordan Loyd finished with 13. However, the hosts’ rhythm was disrupted early after two major injuries.
Starting center Georgios Papagiannis was carted off with a knee injury in the second quarter, and Ercan Osmani exited with a shoulder issue less than three minutes into the game. Efes was forced to go small, which Panathinaikos exploited with sharp ball movement and consistent inside scoring.
With the win, Panathinaikos now sits tied for first in the EuroLeague standings, while Efes dropped its second straight. The Greens next face Virtus Bologna, and Efes will host defending champion Fenerbahce in a high-stakes Istanbul derby.
