Valencia Basket, forced to react after Tuesday's defeat, hosted Panathinaikos in Game 2 of the EuroLeague playoff series.
The Valencia faithful suffered a harsh blow 48 hours earlier in this same venue, falling by just one point to the Greek side that managed to steal home-court advantage from Pedro Martínez's team. But today, Thursday, once again, the new Valencia arena filled its stands to try to carry the team to a potential victory that would level the series.
The first game of the series was decided by small details. The home team, accustomed to playing with many three-pointers and short, quick transition possessions, never felt comfortable against the defensive intensity of the green-clad team. But not everything was bad news, and despite it being Valencia's worst offensive performance, they still had possession to win the game and take a 1-0 lead.
On the other hand, the team coached by Ergin Ataman needed just 68 points to win at Roig Arena. A notable first half capturing many rebounds proved key to reaching the final quarter with an advantage on the scoreboard. Kendric Nunn, the star player of the Athens squad, was crucial to the victory.
The absences for the home team were: Xabi López-Arostegui due to injury, Isaac Nogués, and Yankuba Sima.
• Valencia Basket Starting Five: Jean Montero, Brancou Badio, Josep Puerto, Matt Costello, and Neal Sako.
• Panathinaikos Starting Five: Nunn, Grant, Osman, Hayes, and Lessort.
Brancou Badio opened the scoring with a three-pointer, answered by Nunn with a two-pointer (3-2). It's worth noting that the Greek squad's star player picked up two quick fouls in less than two minutes.
Jean Montero hit the second three-pointer of the game (6-4). Two plays later, the Dominican nailed another three to put Valencia up 7 (11-6). That's when PAO tightened up and took their first lead with a three-point play (13-15), prompting Pedro Martínez to call timeout with 4:34 left in the first quarter.
Sergio De Larrea tied it at 15 with two free throws, with four minutes remaining in the quarter, and Shorts II put his team back ahead (15-17). The end of the opening quarter was very tight, with Valencia Basket having the last possession to take the lead, but Matt Costello missed the three-pointer. Cedi Osman with 7 points was the game's leading scorer so far. (23-24)
Shorts opened the second quarter (23-26) and Hayes-Davis hit a three-pointer for PAO (23-29).
Minutes later, Sergio De Larrea hit a corner three to give Valencia Basket the lead back (39-38). As time passed on the Roig Arena floor, the game continued to alternate leads on the scoreboard.
Again, Valencia Basket, specifically Jean Montero, had possession to win the quarter and head into halftime with the lead, but another poor shot selection prevented the home team from going to the locker room ahead. Hayes-Davis with 16 points was the game's leading scorer. (48-49)
A first half of maximum equality would save the best emotions for a crucial second half in the series. The first twenty minutes saw scoring decrease as the half progressed.
Josep Puerto scored the first points of the second half (50-49), putting Pedro Martínez's team back ahead.
Grant, with a beautiful jump shot, gave the lead back to the Greeks (57-59). Valencia Basket wasn't being effective when they got ahead; they couldn't pull away, and Panathinaikos Aktor Athens always found a way to turn it around.
Braxton Key hit a three-pointer to make it 60-59 with four minutes left, but on the next possession the Greeks connected on another three (60-62), forcing Pedro Martínez to call timeout.
Now it was Ataman calling timeout with 2:30 left in the third quarter because the home team went up 3 (65-62). Ataman received a technical foul at 69-62, but Jean Montero missed the resulting free throw.
PAO tied it 71-71 with 31 seconds left in the quarter when Pedro Martínez called another timeout to manage the final two possessions of this third quarter. Montero missed the last Valencia attack and Juancho Hernangómez punished with a three-pointer. Hayes-Davis with 19 points was the leading scorer at that point. (71-74)
At the start of the fourth quarter, Panathinaikos went up 9 (71-80), a difficult deficit to overcome despite having the entire quarter ahead. A quarter that opened with many three-pointers elevated both teams' scoring.
Jean Montero hit a three-pointer to make it a three-point game with three minutes left (89-92). Shortly after, Kameron Taylor tied it at 92 with 1:53 remaining, and Ataman called timeout. Tension filled the stands, less than 120 seconds and everything to play for.
Coming out of the timeout, PAO turned the ball over and Kameron Taylor hit a three-pointer on the fast break (95-92). With 1:06 left, Cedi Osman hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie it at 95. On the next play, Valencia Basket turned the ball over and Panathinaikos had possession to win, but Nunn missed the shot. Overtime at Roig Arena. (95-95)
Jean Montero scored the first points of overtime from the free-throw line (94-92) but Shorts tied it at 94.
Nate Reuvers hit a three-pointer and Hayes tied it at 102 with 47 seconds remaining. Braxton Key, assisted by Jean Montero, scored to tie it at 105 with 5.7 seconds left. Ataman called timeout to plan the final play (or not). Panathinaikos had one more chance to win. Hayes-Davis hit the final shot at the buzzer. Game over. Hayes-Davis was the game's leading scorer. (105-107)
It was a dramatic ending for both teams. The next game in the series (Game 3) will be next Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. at the Telekom Center Athens.