Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens delivered one of its most complete performances of the season on Thursday, defeating Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv 93–82 at Telekom Center Athens to snap the league leaders’ winning streak.
The victory capped an impressive double-round week for the Greens, who improved to 11–6 just days after ending a difficult stretch that included losses to Valencia and Milan.
Less than 48 hours after holding defending champion Fenerbahce to 77 points in Istanbul, Panathinaikos once again leaned on defense to control a high-powered opponent. This time, the EuroLeague’s top-ranked offense was the one left searching for answers.
Head coach Ergin Ataman set the tone early by keeping his usual star guard trio on the bench. Jerian Grant and Panagiotis Kalaitzakis were tasked with disrupting Vasilije Micic and Round 16 MVP Elijah Bryant.
After a balanced opening, the hosts went on a decisive 13–0 run, holding Hapoel scoreless for four minutes to build a 20–8 advantage. Ataman later credited the execution against the pick-and-roll and paint penetration for the early control.
Hapoel responded before halftime, showing its depth and shot-making to take a 45–41 lead into the break. It was a reminder of why Dimitris Itoudis’s side entered Athens atop the standings.
The second half, however, belonged to Panathinaikos. The Greens allowed just 16 points in the third quarter and carried a 65–62 edge into the final period.
A 15–4 burst to open the fourth effectively put the game away, as the home side dictated tempo and forced tough decisions on nearly every possession.
Hapoel committed 13 turnovers and struggled from the perimeter, shooting 9-of-29 from three-point range. The visitors also left 11 points at the free-throw line despite entering the night as the league’s best foul-shooting team.
Micic was limited to four points, while Bryant went 1-of-4 at the line and combined with Micic for four turnovers.
For Panathinaikos, Kendrick Nunn embodied the week’s mentality. Despite dealing with an ankle issue, the guard scored 19 points against Hapoel, with 13 coming after halftime, following a strong showing against Fenerbahce.
Panathinaikos now heads to Lithuania to face Zalgiris Kaunas next Tuesday, aiming to build on back-to-back statement victories. Hapoel will look to regroup on the road against Bayern Munich.
