CSKA put on an offensive clinic to dismantle Panathinaikos behind a 23-0 run / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

CSKA Moscow (11-7) came to OAKA and showed no mercy for the hosts. The Army club crushed Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (4-14) 98-74 (26-20, 34-13, 22-17, 21-19) and recovered after the tough loss against Real Madrid.

Player of the Game EFF 26 Daniel Hackett Points 17 Accuracy 6-9 Rebounds 5 Assists 6

CSKA were trailing 17-20 with 3:20 to go in the first quarter but then, went on a mission. Dimitris Itoudis' squad arranged a massive 23-0 run to build a 20-point lead (40-20).

Marius Grigonis initiated such a splendid performance, hitting a couple of threes. Iffe Lundberg, Daniel Hackett, and Joel Bolomboy joined the Lithuanian guard with their successful buckets.

23-0 spurt is tied for the third-largest run in EuroLeague history since 2007 when these stats were started to record.

There were two 24-0 runs since then - Unicaja Malaga in 2015-16 and Zenit Saint Petersburg this season (Round 7 against Baskonia).

The Army club was not ready to stop and kept growing their advantage. Both clubs went into the locker room, while the scoreboard was showing 60-33 for CSKA. 60 PTS scored tied for season-best with Olympiacos, while 11 three-pointers made is the second-best all-time result (the record is 12).

The second half was a mere formality as CSKA blew out PAO by 24 points.

Daniel Hackett was superb for CSKA, accumulating 17 points (2/3 2PT, 4/6 3PT, 1/1 FT), 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, 2 drawn fouls, and 26 PIR.

"After a sloppy start, we had much better adjustments, we hit good shots, we were determined and decisive. We were the better team but Panathinaikos lacked that continuity coming into the game.

I want to thank the fans for their applause and everything they recognize from the tremendous 13 years we had at this great club," told Dimitris Itoudis after the game.

Marius Grigonis played his scoring-best game with CSKA jersey, posting 19 points (2/5 3PT, 4/8 3PT, 3/3 FT), 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 4 drawn fouls, and 16 PIR.

"We had five good practices, and I was shooting good in practice. You get confidence from making shots in practice, so you do in the game. We were moving the ball really well, and our hedge defense, our step-out defense, was working. And our energy – we wanted it more," Grigonis said post-game.

Ioannis Papapetrou led the route for PAO, finishing the game with 16 points (7/9 2PT, 0/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 6 drawn fouls, and 18 PIR.

"The conditions of the previous days were difficult, but this is some kind of excuse. We must not stay on that. The second quarter was very bad for us, and that was a big problem. We have to continue and start to get back," Dimitris Priftis spoke.

CSKA: Marius Grigonis 19, Daniel Hackett 17 (5 REB, 6 AST), Tornike Shengelia 16 (4 REB, 4 AST).

Panathinaikos: Ioannis Papapetrou 16 (4 AST), Kendrick Perry 15 (18 PIR), Daryl Macon 11 (5 AST).

Highlights

Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.