After winning a game apiece last week, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head to Belgrade to continue a series that promises to deliver a succession of high-scoring shootouts.
Maccabi, Panathinaikos poised to keep fireworks going
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Having missed Game 2 through injury, Maccabi is hoping to have Wade Baldwin available to complement the threat of backcourt teammate Lorenzo Brown, who has averaged 17 points and 4.5 assists so far in the series.
Panathinaikos's triumph on Friday was inspired by one of the league's true clutch performers, as Kostas Sloukas blasted 29 points on 12-for-16 field goal shooting. The Greens will again look for his combination of leadership and explosiveness in an exciting matchup with Brown.
Acquaintances will also be renewed for a major battle in the paint, where Maccabi's Josh Nebo will look to bounce back from a quiet performance in Game 2 (6 points, 3 rebounds) to control the influence of Mathias Lessort, who paired 11 points with 8 rebounds and 3 assists in Friday's victory.
Both teams love to crash the offensive glass, so other powerful rebounders such as Bonzie Colson, Antonius Cleveland, Kostas Antetokounmpo and Dinos Mitoglou will also have important roles.