Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv erased a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 92-88 on Thursday at Arena 8888 Sofia, strengthening its position in the EuroLeague playoff race.
The comeback victory lifted Hapoel to 21-13, keeping Dimitris Itoudis’ team in the top-four race and ahead of the play-in zone with only a few regular-season games remaining.
Antonio Blakeney led the Israeli club with 19 points, while Elijah Bryant added 18 as five Hapoel players scored in double figures in a balanced offensive effort.
Panathinaikos entered the matchup on a four-game winning streak and appeared in control late in the fourth quarter before Hapoel surged behind defensive stops and timely free throws.
The Greens led by as many as 12 points in the third quarter and still held an 80-69 advantage with less than nine minutes remaining.
Hapoel responded with a decisive 15-4 run fueled by Tai Odiase and Chris Jones, tying the game at 84-84 with four minutes left.
Jones finished the contest at the foul line, converting four free throws in the final 26 seconds to secure the win after Kendrick Nunn missed a late layup attempt.
Odiase provided a key spark off the bench with a season-high 12 points in 17 minutes, his first appearance since Round 31.
Collin Malcolm contributed 10 points, while Vasilije Micic added 14 points and four assists to support the comeback.
Hapoel shot 60% on two-point attempts and 40% from three-point range while converting 20 of 21 free throws, including several critical makes in the final minute.
Defensively, the team limited EuroLeague leading scorer Nunn to 15 points and only four in the fourth quarter.
Juancho Hernangomez paced Panathinaikos with 17 points, while Kostas Sloukas recorded 14 points and eight assists.
Despite controlling most of the game, Panathinaikos struggled to extend its lead when opportunities arose.
The loss dropped Panathinaikos to 20-15, placing the team in the tightly contested race around the play-in spots.
Hapoel will host Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul on April 7, while Panathinaikos travels to face FC Barcelona the same day as the EuroLeague regular season enters its decisive stretch.
