Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens ended a two-game skid with an 84-71 EuroLeague victory over Virtus Bologna on Thursday at Telekom Center. The Greens relied on defense from the opening tip, holding the Italians to just 15 points in the first quarter.
By halftime, Panathinaikos led 39-33 after another tight defensive frame, setting the stage for a dominant third quarter. The hosts forced turnovers and converted them into points, recording four steals and three blocks in the period and scoring 20 points off turnovers over the game.
Richaun Holmes and Juancho Hernangomez sparked the decisive run after Virtus cut the lead to 39-37 early in the third. A sequence featuring Hernangomez’s block, Kendrick Nunn’s hustle, TJ Shorts’ alley-oop assist to Holmes, and a Cedi Osman steal highlighted Panathinaikos’ energy.
Holmes led the team with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting inside the arc and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, adding nine rebounds, four offensively, plus two blocks and a steal. Ataman praised Holmes’ return from injury as a key factor in Panathinaikos’ performance.
Juancho contributed nine points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks, matching Holmes’ defensive intensity. The pair helped Panathinaikos force 16 turnovers and record 10 steals, turning defensive stops into transition scoring.
Kendrick Nunn paced the backcourt with 21 points on 4-of-12 shooting from two-point range and seven rebounds, while TJ Shorts added four assists and five points, facilitating the team’s fast-break opportunities.
Virtus Bologna was led by Carsen Edwards with 24 points and three three-pointers, while Daniel Hackett scored 12 points and Matt Morgan added 10. Alessandro Pajola contributed six points and four assists, but the visitors struggled with turnovers and rebounding under Panathinaikos’ pressure.
The Greens controlled the boards 39-35, including 11 offensive rebounds, and scored efficiently on second-chance opportunities. Panathinaikos’ defensive intensity and hustle plays allowed them to pull away in the fourth quarter and secure a convincing win.
Panathinaikos improves to 13-8 and will visit FC Bayern Munich next Thursday, while Virtus Bologna drops to 10-11 and heads to Dubai Basketball on the same day.
