Stefan Jovic makes his debut as Panathinaikos snap their losing-streak / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (5-15) put a stop to their five-game losing skid in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, easily taking care of the shorthanded Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (7-14) 75-63 (22-8, 16-12, 19-12, 18-31).

Player of the Game EFF 18 Jeremy Evans Points 14 Accuracy 6-7 Rebounds 3 Assists 1

Panathinaikos showed no mercy to the undermanned Baskonia right from the start, gaining an 18-4 advantage at the halfway mark of the first period. The visitors only converted 4 of 18 field goals, losing the quarter by 14 (8-22).

The visitors continued struggling in the second, only finishing the first half with 20 points against 38 from Baskonia. Panathinaikos led by as many as 25, doubling Baskonia's score in the third (50-25).

Baskonia went on an 11-0 run in the fourth, but it was too little too late, as Panathinaikos secured a 12-point victory.

Nemanja Nedovic was the leading scorer for the winners, ending with 16 points (6/8 2PT, 1/5 3PT, 1/2 FT), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, and 16 PIR.

"Defensively we were amazing, especially in the first half," Nedovic said post-game. "Now it hurts even more that we lost against Efes in the way we lost the game. But it is what it is. I think we picked up the pace a little bit, we picked up the rhythm a little bit. We just have to keep going like this."

Stefan Jovic debuted with Panathinaikos, finishing with 6 points (0/1 2PT, 2/2 3PT), 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers, and 10 PIR over 19.4 minutes.

The Basques only had nine players at their disposal tonight. Baskonia played without Tadas Sedekerskis, Rodions Kurucs, and Alec Peters, who our out due to Covid. Matthew Costello didn't play because of an ankle sprain.

"Tonight I think we lost the game in the first half," Baskonia's coach Spahija admitted. "With this shooting percentage, it's very difficult to play defense. For the first time in my career, my team missed all of its threes in the first half: 0-for-13. At the same time 33%, we shot from twos. Very, very tough."

On the opposing side, Panathinaikos didn't have Georgios Papagiannis and Daryl Macon at their disposal.

Panathinaikos: Nemanja Nedovic 16, Jeremy Evans 14, Okaro White 12, Ioannis Papapetrou 7 (5 AST), Leonidas Kaselakis 7, Stefan Jovic 6.

Baskonia: Wade Baldwin 16 (8 AST), Rokas Giedraitis 12 (8 REB), Steven Enoch 11 (11 REB), Simone Fontecchio 11 (6 REB).

Highlights:

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