Panathinaikos maintained their perfect start to the EuroLeague season with a 92-74 home victory over Fenerbahce Tarfin on Thursday, while Real Madrid secured their first win of the campaign by defeating previously unbeaten Partizan 86-76.
The Greek side improved to 4-0, handing Fenerbahce their first defeat of the season after three consecutive victories.
Fenerbahce made the stronger start in Athens, taking an early 14-9 lead, but Panathinaikos recovered to finish the opening quarter 27-24 ahead.
The hosts extended their advantage to nine points in the second quarter before Wade Baldwin helped the visitors reduce the deficit to 46-41 at halftime.
Panathinaikos took control after the break, stretching their lead to 15 points in the third quarter and entering the final period 67-55 ahead.
The Greek side pushed their advantage to 20 points early in the fourth quarter and comfortably held off Fenerbahce’s attempts to mount a comeback.
Mathias Lessort and Nigel Hayes-Davis led Panathinaikos with 19 points apiece, while Sylvain Francisco contributed 17 points and seven assists.
Braxton Key scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Fenerbahce, while Johnny Juzang added 10 points.
– Real Madrid end winless start, hand Partizan first defeat
Real Madrid ended their three-game losing streak under new head coach Pedro Martinez with an 86-76 home victory over Partizan, who entered the contest with a perfect 3-0 record.
The Spanish side took control late in the opening quarter, building a 27-19 advantage before opening the second period with an 8-0 run.
Real Madrid maintained their momentum to lead 53-37 at halftime.
Partizan reduced the deficit to seven points early in the third quarter, but the hosts responded to enter the final period 71-57 ahead.
The Serbian side made another push in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 10 points with less than four minutes remaining, but Real Madrid held firm to secure their first victory of the season.
Theo Maledon led Real Madrid with 13 points, while Facundo Campazzo added 12.
Carlik Jones finished as the game’s leading scorer with 19 points for Partizan, with Ethan Thompson contributing 14.
Thursday’s results:
Dubai Basketball 58 – 77 Crvena Zvezda
Maccabi Tel Aviv 97 – 79 Olimpia Milan
Bayern Munich 87 – 94 Virtus Bologna
Valencia Basket 93 – 82 Hapoel Tel Aviv