A loss at the OAKA after a 50-minute battle
Following a hard-fought 50-minute battle, Panathinaikos prevailed in Game 4 of the Finals at OAKA, defeating Olympiacos 93-86 and tying the Finals series at 2-2.
Evan Fournier was the top scorer for our team, with 29 points and 8 rebounds in 46' of playing time. The French guard was followed by Thomas Walkup, who contributed 19 points.
Giorgios Bartzokas started the game with Walkup, Fournier, Papanikolaou, Vezenkov, and Milutinov in the lineup, with our captain scoring the first 4 points of the matchup. The Red & Whites could have built a larger lead in the opening 5 minutes (4-6), but the loss of several defensive rebounds gave Panathinaikos valuable second-chance opportunities.
Led by Fournier, Olympiacos extended its advantage to 6p., but Kendrick Nunn responded with 8 consecutive points to put the hosts ahead 13-11 by 8'.
Panathinaikos entered the first break leading 20-16, aided by several controversial officiating decisions.
The hosts started the second quarter strongly, carrying momentum from the end of the first one. With Nunn reaching 13 points, Panathinaikos opened up a 29-20 lead, forcing Bartzokas to call a timeout with 6 minutes remaining in the first half.
Shortly afterward, our team improved its performance and cut the deficit to just two points (33-31) following a 3-pointer by Tyler Dorsey. However, the hosts pulled away again thanks to another scoring burst from Nunn. The first half ended with Panathinaikos holding a 6-point advantage (40-34), while Walkup led Olympiacos in scoring with 9 points.
Olympiacos came out much more composed in the second half, and with Sasha Vezenkov moving the ball exceptionally well, the European champions cut the deficit to a single point (49-48) five minutes into the game. Fournier and Walkup became the first Olympiacos players to reach double figures, and an incredible three from Fournier tied the game at 51.
A series of excellent defensive possessions late in the third quarter allowed Olympiacos to regain the lead for the first time since the opening stages of the game. The period ended with a dunk by Jones, giving our team a four-point lead (53-57).
Unlike the strong finish to the third quarter, the start of the fourth saw Olympiacos fall behind once again. The Red & Whites lost several key rebounds, allowing Panathinaikos to retake the lead.
Evan Fournier and Thomas Walkup carried Olympiacos offensively in the fourth quarter, helping the team build a five-point lead. However, our eternal rivals once again found the answers and tied the game at 66 with 2:22'' remaining.
The closing minutes were thrilling, with Vezenkov and Hayes-Davis both knocking down threes, sending the game into overtime tied at 69-69.
Despite Olympiacos taking a 5p. advantage thanks to a scoring burst from Sasha Vezenkov, the hosts once again fought their way back into contention. As in the closing moments of regulation, players from both teams struggled to convert their final attempts, resulting in the fourth Finals game being pushed into a second overtime.
There, Shorts took control of the game and, with a string of consecutive baskets, led Panathinaikos to a 93-86 victory after an extremely physical and demanding contest.
The quarters: 20-16, 40-34, 53-57, 69-69, 79-79, 93-86.
