Night to remember in Athens: Macon 34 points show, Ataman’s ejection and PAO’s blowout win / News - Basketnews.com

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

Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (2-4) crushed Anadolu Efes Istanbul (1-5) 95-69 (22-13, 30-22, 26-20, 17-14) to hand the reigning Turkish EuroLeague Airlines champions their fifth loss of the season.

Player of the Game EFF 38 Daryl Macon Points 34 Accuracy 11-14 Rebounds 4 Assists 3

PAO built a substantial advantage already in the first quarter. After Daryl Macon and Georgios Papagiannis buckets, the Greek powerhouse gained a 14-point lead (22-8).

Dimitris Priftis' squad did not stop in the second, as Daryl Macon continued his solo performance. The Greens were dominating, and their advantage marked 19 points (45-26).

Macon scored 21 points with perfect shooting (2/2 2PT, 5/5 3PT, 2/2 FT) in the first half. He also accumulated 23 PIR.

He finished the game posting 34 points (2/2 2PT, 9/12 3PT, 3/3 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 2 drawn fouls, and 38 PIR.

“These are probably one of the best sets of fans I've ever experienced. It was an unbelievable experience tonight. All credit to my teammates, without them I couldn't have had a night like this. Playing at OAKA is unbelievable," said the star of the match post-game.

“We played well. We needed this win and had a convincing game. We have to continue like this, have to work on that," told Dimitris Priftis.

In the third period, the view on the court remained the same. Moreover, Ergin Ataman could not control his emotions. Anadolu Efes' bench boss received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game.

The decisive quarter was a mere formality, while Efes were fighting for their honor.

Georgios Papagiannis recorded a double-double performance with 12 points (6/8 2PT), 10 rebounds, and 25 PIR.

Rodrigue Beaubois and Elijah Bryant led the route for Efes. The Frenchman registered 16 points (4/8 2PT, 2/4 2PT, 2/3 FT), 3 assists, and 12 PIR, while Bryant contributed with 15 points (5/9 2PT, 1/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 3 rebounds, 4 drawn fouls, and 12 PIR as well.

“It is always difficult to play in OAKA. Of course, we didn't plan to play with this low energy, but we could not execute what we prepared on the court. Panathinaikos played with great tempo, great energy and they stopped us,” spoke Anadolu Efes assistant Yakup Sekizkok after the heavy loss.

“We missed all the shots, even open shots, and they played with huge confidence, made all the three-point shots, pushed the ball, scored easy fastbreak points and they broke the game at the beginning,” he added.

Vasilije Micic did not play for Anadolu Efes.

Panathinaikos: Daryl Macon 34 (4 REB, 3 AST), Nemanja Nedovic 17 (20 PIR), Howard Sant-Roos 13 (5 REB, 3 AST), Georgios Papagiannis 12 (10 REB), Ioannis Papapetrou 8.

Anadolu Efes: Rodrigue Beaubois 16 (3 AST), Elijah Bryant 15 (3 REB), Chris Singleton 11 (5 REB), Tibor Pleiss 9 (5 REB), Shane Larkin 9.

Highlights

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