Adam Williams presents his prediction for the EuroLeague match.
In the last round, Panathinaikos finally ended their losing streak with a resounding home victory over Olimpia Milano (103:74). It seems Ergin Ataman found the right words. Now the question is whether his players can maintain their momentum and continue winning.
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos's emphatic win over Olimpia Milano was largely due to a stellar performance from Kendrick Nunn. The American scored 39 points in 37 minutes, hitting 12 of 23 from the field. Moreover, the team finally excelled in defence, grabbing 40 rebounds compared to Milan's 21, whereas they typically average 34 per game. They also recorded 5 steals and 4 blocks.
Baskonia
Baskonia, on the other hand, defeated the underdogs Maccabi Tel Aviv (95:85), yet even against such opponents, they faced difficulties. The Basque side made slightly over half of their free throws—only 64.3%, which could prove critical in any other match. Furthermore, their defensive issues persist. Yes, Maccabi missed nearly all their three-point attempts (7 out of 22), but previously Olympiacos made 11 of 26, and Bayern Munich even hit 18 of 30.
Panathinaikos vs Baskonia Prediction
Panathinaikos displayed a level of play that finally befits the reigning champions. In previous encounters with top teams, Baskonia consistently struggled, twice losing by 14 points or more. We highly doubt they can improve their performance in such a short time.
