The first matchup between undefeated teams in the EuroLeague had a clear winner. Panathinaikos defeated Fenerbahce 92-74 in Athens and remains perfect (4-0), the club's best start in the competition since the 2007-08 season. They did it without three key players: Kendrick Nunn, Kostas Sloukas, and Juancho Hernangómez. Fenerbahce, coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius, suffered its first loss against its former head coach, Zeljko Obradovic.
An Even First Half
Fenerbahce started strong. Talen Horton-Tucker led an opening that put the Turkish side ahead (7-12), but Panathinaikos responded from three-point range, with Sylvain Francisco leading the charge, and the first quarter closed 27-24. The second quarter remained tight: Bingham tied it at 24, Braxton Key kept Fenerbahce alive, and Panathinaikos went into halftime up five (46-41). Francisco already had 12 points.
The 10-0 Run That Changed Everything
The game shifted in the third quarter. With the score at 52-47, Panathinaikos strung together a 10-0 run (62-47) that left Fenerbahce without an answer. Mathias Lessort dominated inside, Nikos Rogkavopoulos found the basket from outside, and Greek defense shut down all options. At the end of the third quarter, 67-55.
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A Fourth Quarter for the Crowd
In the fourth quarter, Panathinaikos kept pressing until reaching their largest lead (78-58, +20). Nicolò Melli fouled out, Fenerbahce ran out of comeback options, and the crowd even had time to celebrate the debut of Moustapha Fall, who marked his arrival with a dunk.
Lessort was the game's standout performer with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and a 30 efficiency rating. Nigel Hayes-Davis, who returned last week after a month out, also finished with 19, and Francisco added 17 points and 7 assists. For Fenerbahce, only Braxton Key (13 points and 7 rebounds) was up to the task.
The Difference, by the Numbers
Panathinaikos shot 52% from the field (32 of 61) compared to Fenerbahce's 42% (28 of 66), and 63% on two-pointers. They distributed more assists (20 to 16) and recorded more steals (8 to 5). Rebounds ended even (34-34).