Panathinaikos cut the lead in Euroleague Play offs series to 2-1 by edging CSKA Moscow at OAKA 65-59. The fourth game is being hosted at OAKA on Wednesday the 23rd April.
Panathinaikos took an early lead (6-1, 2'15'') with Jonas Maciulis, while Dimitris Diamantidis and Antonis Fotsis were sharp behind the arc to lead to +11 (16-5, 5'33''). Mike Batiste dunked the ball (18-7, 18'30''), and the Greens led to 20-9 (8'15''). CSKA Moscow tried to reply to the hosts, moved the ball better, while its defense became tougher. Step by step the Russians moved within 2 points (33-31, 17'50''). Two free throws by Antonis Fotsis and a coact-to-coast by Zack Wright made it a 6 point game (41-35).
Stephan Lasme led to 43-35, but CSKA Moscow cut the deficit to 1 point (43-42, 25'10''). Roko Leni Ukic saved the day for Panathinaikos with a three pointer far beyond the arc to make it 46-42 (25'45''), while Antonis Fotsis scores for three too to lead to +7 (49-42, 26'50''), while Zack Wright was "hot" in the final minutes of the third quarter (51-47).
Loukas Mavrokefalidis led to 53-47 (31'), but CSKA took its last chance to turn things around. Vorontsevich and Weems made it a one point game (54-53), Wright and Gist restored 58-54 for the Greens, but Weems and Krstic gave the Russians their first lead in the game (58-59, 36'45''). It was the last time. Lasme, Fotsis and Diamantidis took care of business on the way to the final 65-59.
Referees: Belosevic (Serbia), Rocha (Poland), Conde (Spain)
Quarters: 20-11, 41-35, 51-47, 65-59
Panathinaikos (Alvertis): Bramos 2, Curry 2, Batiste 2, Fotsis 9 (7r), Ukic 5, Lasme 13, Mavrokefalidis 5, Diamantidis 9 (5a), Gist 2, Jankovic, Maciulis 6, Wright 10 (8r)
CSKA M (Messina): Micov 8, Fridzon 10, Jackson, Pargo 6, Krstic 6, Weems 14, Vorontsevich 7, Kaun 4, Khryapa 1, Hines 4
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