The Panathinaikos defeated Olympiacos at the OAKA, adding new interest to the title battle. On Wednesday (12/6), Game 4 will take place at SEF with Olympiacos needing a win to secure the championship.
This year's title battle in the Stoiximan Basket League has been intense. Panathinaikos' victory injected fresh excitement into the finals series, preventing Olympiacos from "sweeping" their eternal rival. However, Olympiacos maintains the advantage, leading 2-1 in wins and hosting Game 4 at SEF.
The third final was dramatic, with Panathinaikos initially taking a significant lead (40-24, 60-49). However, Olympiacos closed in (61-59 at 30 minutes) and briefly overtook with 72-73 at 35 minutes. Yet, in the final minutes, the Reds made collective errors, and Panathinaikos capitalized, securing a victory with a partial score of 13-3.
The match began with intense gameplay, evident from both teams entering the free throw bonus before the first quarter ended. The score remained tied at 13-13 by the 5th minute. Panathinaikos' Matthias Lessort dominated, leading to a 23-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. Both teams demonstrated strong offensive plays, with Panathinaikos leading by 40-24 in the second quarter.
At the start of the second period, Panathinaikos's lead extended to +7 (25-18). However, Olympiacos closed in, trailing 43-34 at halftime. Panathinaikos maintained a high shooting percentage in the first half, while Olympiacos relied on players like Peters and Milutinov for scoring.
In the third quarter, Panathinaikos held a 76% shooting rate but faced pressure from Olympiacos, narrowing the gap to 61-59 by the end of the quarter.
The match witnessed several lead changes in the fourth quarter, with Panathinaikos eventually prevailing with a strong finish, winning 80-73. This victory marked a crucial moment in the game, as Panathinaikos seized momentum and eventually secured a 2-1 lead in the series.
