After a dramatic finale at OAKA, the Panathinaikos lost with 79-76 by Efes of Anadolu and Bank’s team equalized in 1-1 the series of Euroleague playoffs, which is now transferred to Turkey.
Panathinaikos had the lead on almost the whole game against Efes Anadolu, but a Turkish counterattack in the final of the match brought … the match in the last seconds and “frozen” the OAKA in the second Euroleague playoff game.
With a three -pointer by Larkin just before the end of the match, Banki’s team went ahead and the “Greens” missed two opportunities with Nan to send the match to the extension, protesting a foul in the phase with the American guard. Panathinaikos will now need his own break in Turkey to qualify for Abu Dhabi’s Final 4.
The game
Panathinaikos started the game dramatically and with two three-pointers of Grand reached 8-0, forcing Banki in premature timeout. Efes then responded and even managed to lead the match with her own series, but the “Greens” then raised their performance again and with Osman giving points to the open court, led 29-17 in the quarter.
In the second period, Panathinaikos continued at the same pace and the difference reached 15 points with a three -pointer by Jurceven, but Efes again reacted and “hit” the “green” in the racket, with Otourou and Poarier. Panathinaikos also stuck in the attack, with Nan staying in the shallow and Sloukas not to find solutions, to eventually reduce the difference to a 42-36 half of the half.
Jordan Nwora to Dan Oturu that detonates the alley-oop@AnadoluEfesSK #MotorolaMagicMoments I @Moto pic.twitter.com/wYx9OALozE
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) April 24, 2025
In the third quarter, the image of the match did not change, with Panathinaikos growing up again with their leadership Grand and Osman in defense and attack, but Efes finding “answers” again. The Turks led the Greens to many mistakes and kept Nan out of the race to reduce the difference even to 55-50, before Panathinaikos runs a 5-0 in a matter of seconds, to reach an air buzzer beater three-point three-point at 30-50 at 30-50.
WOW Sloukas
What a shot to end the third quarter with a 10-point lead for @Paobcgr #MotorolaMagicMoments I @Moto pic.twitter.com/zlLwjF9SlV
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) April 24, 2025
The “Greens” thus entered the last period of the race, but they stuck aggressively, with Nan remained well closed by the Banky players and his own “cold” teammates, despite the “flares” of Grand and Huanzo. The biggest problem, however, was the defense, with Dosier finding rhythm aggressively, Poirier’s winner in the racket and Larkin making big shots in the finale. A American three-pointer gave Efes the lead seconds before the end and with Nan to be a big shot, but losing two more in the last attack, the Turkish team celebrated the victory 79-76.
.@Shanelarkin will ALWAYS BE HIM! @AnadoluEfesSK level the series 1-1…
All eyes on Istanbul https://t.co/S1AssVcz24 pic.twitter.com/LjPiAGLtn4
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) April 24, 2025
The quarters: 29-17, 42-36, 60-50, 76-79
Players’ statistics
Panathinaikos (Ataman): Kalaitzakis, Brown 5 (1/1 three -pointers, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), Sloukas 9 (2/4 three -pointers, 6/6 shots, 1 rebound, 3 assists), Oman 16 (2/3 two -pointers, 2/5 three -pointers, 6/11) steals), Nan 14 (5/10 two -pointers, 1/6 three -pointers, 1/1 shot, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 errors), Gabriel (2 rebounds, 3 errors), Erngome 4 (1/4 three -pointers, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 assists) rebounds, Yourtseven 10 (1/1 three -point, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 3 errors).
Anadolu Efes (Banki): Larkin 20 (4/6 three -pointers, 6/7 shots, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 errors), Noura, Bryant 5 (1/4 three -pointers, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 errors), Smits 3 (1), Thompson 6 two -pointers, 2 rebounds, 5 assists), Poarier 16 (7/11 two -pointers, 2/4 shots, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block), Osmani 2, Otourou 11 (5/6 two -pointers, 4 rebounds, 2 steals), Yilmaz, Willis 2.
The series is now transferred for two games to Turkey.