Disappointing in snowy Kaunas, Panathinaikos was defeated by Zalgiris 84-77, although it temporarily overturned an 18-point lead. At halftime, Andrea Trinchieri’s team led 49-42.
The Lithuanians came out hot from the start and jumped out to a 20-9 lead with 18 points from Walker and Sirvidis, while Kendrick Nunn picked up 3 quick fouls. The difference remained at a double-digit level: 31-20 and 44-26 with back-to-back 3-pointers by the hosts. Yurtseven, Sloukas started the Greek counterattack with a 0-7 run and Nan reduced with personal actions to 49-40 just before the break.
Panathinaikos didn’t take long to equalize and overtake: 51-51 with a basket by Papapetrou and 57-59 with a three-pointer by Lorenzo Brown. The Lithuanians responded with an 8-0 run and raised the score to 78-66 midway through the fourth period with newcomer Lonnie Walker as the star. The rest of the match was uneventful.
The “greens” lined up in Kaunas without Ergin Ataman and Cedi Osman, who had obligations with the Turkish National Team. Also absent was Dimitris Moraitis, who yesterday played with the Greek National Team in London, as well as the injured Grigonis, K. Antetokounmpo.
Kendrick Nunn was the top scorer of the European champions with 19 points, while Omer Yurtseven scored 16 and Lorenzo Brown 11. Christos Serelis also used Slouka 5, Grant 8, Kalaitzakis, Papapetrou 2, Hernangometh 4, Mitoglou 2, Lessor 9 .
Lonnie Walker led the game with 24 points and 4/6 3-pointers, while Sirvidis scored 19 on 5/8 3-pointers. Zalgiris played without former “green” Lukas Lekavicius, who was with the Lithuanian National Team. Sylvain Francisco who played last year in Peristeri scored 12 points, former Olympiakos player Bryant Dunston 6, while Brazdeikis was not used.
Among the 12,000 spectators were 200 Greek sports fans, as well as the former coach of the “trefoil” Giorgos Vovoras, who works in Lithuania. Panathinaikos has 7 wins in 11 matches in the Euroleague and is now level with Zalgiris, which came from three consecutive defeats.
Despite the absence of Sasha Vezenkov, Olympiacos crushed Vaskonia yesterday 92-69 in Faliro (Fournier 15, Milutinov 14, Peters 12, Williams-Goss 12, McKissick 10) and climbed to second place 8-3, after counting 6 consecutive victories. The amazing Paris has a similar record, while Fenerbahce leads with 9-2.
Next Thursday, the “red and white” will face Zeliko Obradovic’s Partizan in Belgrade, while a day later Panathinaikos will host Monaco at the OAKA, probably with Vassilis Spanoulis at the helm.
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#ZalgirisPanathinaikos #Unbeaten #Kaunas
**Considering the absences of key players due to national team commitments, how impactful were the performances of bench players for both Zalgiris and Panathinaikos?**
## World Today News Interview: Analyzing the Zalgiris-Panathinaikos EuroLeague Clash
**Introduction**
Welcome back to World Today News! Tonight, we’re dissecting the thrilling EuroLeague matchup between Zalgiris and Panathinaikos, a game that saw the Lithuanian side emerge victorious despite a valiant comeback attempt by the Greek champions. To delve deeper into this captivating clash, we’re joined by two esteemed basketball analysts: [GUEST 1 NAME], renowned for their insights into European basketball, and [GUEST 2 NAME], a former professional player with extensive experience in the Greek league.
**Section 1: The Zalgiris Surge**
* [GUEST 1 NAME], Zalgiris started the game on fire, building a significant lead early on. What were the key factors behind their dominant start?
* [GUEST 2 NAME], Lonnie Walker seems to be settling in well at Zalgiris. How impactful was his performance in this game, and what does his arrival signify for the Lithuanian team’s future prospects?
**Section 2: Panathinaikos’ Resilience**
* [GUEST 2 NAME], despite the early deficit, Panathinaikos showed remarkable resilience, tying the game and even taking the lead. How would you assess their performance throughout the match, especially considering their absences due to national team commitments?
* [GUEST 1 NAME], Kendrick Nunn led the scoring for Panathinaikos. How crucial is his contribution to the team, and was his performance sufficient to overcome Zalgiris’ strong showing?
**Section 3: Looking Ahead**
* Both teams are looking to solidify their positions in the EuroLeague standings. [GUEST 2 NAME], what are the biggest challenges Panathinaikos will face moving forward, especially with the shadow of Ergin Ataman’s absence looming?
* [GUEST 1 NAME], Zalgiris ended a three-game losing streak with this win. Do you see this as a turning point for them, and what should fans expect from them in the coming weeks?
**Section 4: The Broader Picture**
* [GUEST 1 NAME], Olympiacos continues to be a dominant force in the EuroLeague. How significant is their current form, and do you anticipate a close competition for the top spot this season?
* [GUEST 2 NAME], with Fenerbahce leading the pack, how do you see the rest of the EuroLeague season unfolding? Which teams are poised to make a serious run for the championship?
**Conclusion**
Thank you both for your valuable insights. This match served as a testament to the competitiveness and excitement that define the EuroLeague.
We will continue to follow the fortunes of Panathinaikos and Zalgiris, as well as the rest of the EuroLeague contenders, throughout the season. Stay tuned to World Today News for further analysis and updates.
