In a game that went down to the wire, the Israeli managed to grab a crucial road win
Maccabi steals Game 1 at Panathinaikos, 87-91
Game Report
3 Mins read
In a thriller that went down to the final seconds, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv struck first in its best-of-five playoffs series by downing Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 87-91 at OAKA in the Greek capital on Tuesday. Maccabi takes an early lead in the series, with Panathinaikos set to host Game 2 on Thursday.
Bonzie Colson led the winners with 18 points. Lorenzo Brown added 16, Wade Baldwin had 15 before leaving the game due to an injury, while Josh Nebo had 12 and 8 rebounds for Maccabi. Mathias Lessort paced Panathinaikos with 22 points. Kostas Sloukas added 12 and a career-high 13 assists, while Jerian Grant and Marius Grigonis each had 11 for the Greens.
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/GZzt0du0g6A/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/358db529-d28b-4d72-aacf-51eb16816819.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A126%3A56]()
Yurtseven with the putback slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0a0edd92-5f4f-456f-8cca-62aff656ce7a.jpg?crop=1350%3A759%3Anowe%3A0%3A43]()
Big men connection! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/hhv20iHb-5Q/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7ddf1970-44f0-4b86-988d-8dc686254c02.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A176%3A127]()
Hoard with the rejection! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/00b75cd0-79a5-41f5-8275-cb3ba273994a.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:55
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/15/Avsk60VOydUfRHm9aSxNcaeNbhL4Lra9-1731708674547.jpg]()
Kendrick Nunn: 'I love coming here, I love Bologna'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/GAahGoLP8mc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv–Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 10 highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/31e6c208-72dd-42db-9895-85ddf014dd37.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A26%3A21]()
Roman Sorkin blocks Fournier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/74e3ce34-aaf0-4529-89b5-c6b74761e3cf.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A270%3A152]()
Gabriel rejects Walkup! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fd78ace7-5814-4f5b-a066-c64bddf5c89b.jpg?crop=989%3A556%3Anowe%3A544%3A161]()
Saben Lee explodes to the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/56072d45-57d4-4b71-b522-2c2c9a9d7f2c.jpg?crop=615%3A346%3Anowe%3A441%3A245]()
What a block by Wenyen Gabriel! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/AvLmSc__1do/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:49
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/12/ZPlSipE5D2LpnJnXq2gU7MO9Q8o9IG3g-1731450630561.jpg]()
Ergin Ataman: 'We improved 200%'
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4258f394-9387-49b1-b801-c3c744cc989a.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A147%3A190]()
Great dunk on the alley-oop by Sorkin! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cfd3ccea-68bb-46bb-87ba-278a5a10567c.jpg?crop=1214%3A682%3Anowe%3A106%3A22]()
Big two-handed dunk by Lessort! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/358db529-d28b-4d72-aacf-51eb16816819.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A62]()
A huge slam-dunk by Yurtseven! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:22
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/08/NGPFhCK0EvuSAPYef2bc1VFRAcjMxsrQ-1731105226244.jpg]()
Nunn to Yurtseven alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6ba17594-c852-416a-9cdd-d187cec4b294.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/VqglhccWNHE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/360da801-98c7-4a19-a140-c5eaddf94bfd.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A115]()
Gabriel with a audacious alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a5a0625c-abd1-4b16-9a12-48aa0677bfe5.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A133%3A40]()
Grant to Lessort alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e754a79c-ffeb-483a-8b61-341eb4fd8b93.jpg?crop=742%3A417%3Anowe%3A131%3A136]()
Juancho denies Wright at the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2d480d1d-e06e-4dbe-be9f-960a3b855044.jpg?crop=1001%3A563%3Anowe%3A94%3A15]()
Monster dunk by Rivero! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b6ba7a2b-4cb6-48da-b044-e4d59616fd8a.jpg?crop=762%3A428%3Anowe%3A185%3A83]()
Juancho goes from defense to offense! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:50
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/08/3bFWbPBhqwN1BxjVwcndcfsD4wfsC2I6-1731053124048.jpg]()
Fragiskos Alvertis: 'It's a completely different game to any other'
- 00:49
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/01/ab6ghjRr8gHsWfZCNNvTRv53IRW6aFCc-1730495159475.jpg]()
Mathias Lessort: 'It was loud... until the end'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/nREilXsKd58/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cfd3ccea-68bb-46bb-87ba-278a5a10567c.jpg?crop=1241%3A698%3Anowe%3A23%3A27]()
A monster two-handed slam by Lessort! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/32cbbe00-ef2c-47e0-9d17-1650b8a2cedf.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A0%3A21]()
A fine put-back dunk by Hernangomez! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9c9489e5-f2dc-4508-942a-57fe890c3e51.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A0%3A68]()
A monster dunk by Lorenzo Brown! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:46
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/31/Olfm8OWfaYxx0MHrzxH6MRFq75WFisp9-1730412640000.jpg]()
Oded Kattash: ‘We showed character again’
- 00:26
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/31/nwdpextcnXqqmOe8UWzGq53uom3aVNYS-1730412340877.jpg]()
Saben Lee: ‘I just tried to keep fighting’
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/OxaAy3jW76I/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Real Madrid | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/31/Rgy3pQD4lUTttFDG3HQ9nIkGvyMoStNF-1730413398184.png]()
Lee wins it! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/be59c6ff-8297-4f38-9662-c6cf7b34edec.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7005b58e-ef25-43f1-98b8-4d6d0126c60b.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A103%3A19]()
Antetokounmpo dunks in traffic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:45
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/30/E7ELpeFVrHif2zfU6AYwLf8WPUH8OStD-1730322362618.jpg]()
Juancho Hernangomez: 'I had to adapt and fight'
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b48727a7-ba7d-4328-8ba9-232afd86612e.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A18%3A73]()
Yurtseven's alley-oop dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b0ad83cf-78af-4183-9e7b-a436a7ab908f.jpg?crop=1536%3A864%3Anowe%3A192%3A108]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/64cc1074-77e8-4210-83e4-edfb8fe30a3b.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A39%3A59]()
What a fine alley-oop from Jaylen Hoard! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/25/ujk89jlitxb3ajuELRmFa7ZH6kgfED40-1729891701628.jpg]()
Monster block from Lessort! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/No2Nx24QppM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:43
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/25/ukKeKD5ncU8EAy6YQf9LSqyt3DoFX7H9-1729886507168.jpg]()
Kostas Sloukas: 'Ergin Ataman is the best coach in Europe'
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/09f0ac6e-57df-4a5f-92cb-43cb3df64406.jpg?crop=926%3A521%3Anowe%3A380%3A223]()
Monster block from Lessort! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a2abaaae-5984-4a8e-9962-8d9136f111d5.jpg?crop=533%3A300%3Anowe%3A628%3A21]()
Great alley-oop dunk by Yurtseven! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/7Fcwckn5wmA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/69f66d65-d666-473c-a9d2-dca4aa12f243.jpg?crop=764%3A430%3Anowe%3A83%3A160]()
Lee left Francisco on his backside before finishing! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1d7e067b-09a8-48ed-bb49-ef22f3dddc76.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/veqK9NE1Fw4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Cohen, Rivero gave Maccabi the lead
Dinos Mitoglou got Panathinaikos going with a bomb from downtown and Kendrick Nunn added a one-handed floater in the lane for a 5-2 lead. Brown buried a three-pointer, then Jake Cohen added a layup, a mid-range jumper and a three-pointer to give Maccabi a 9-12 lead. Sloukas scored in penetration and Grigonis bettered Josh Nebo's put-back dunk with a triple that tied the game at 14-14. Baldwin stepped up for Maccabi and Jasiel Rivero's jumper boosted his team's lead to 17-21. Sloukas hit a triple and fed Grigonis for another one from beyond the arc. Lessort erased James Webb's acrobatic layup with a huge dunk, then Rivero fixed the score at 25-26 after 10 minutes.
Vildoza, Lessort led the Greens' surge
Grant buried a baseline jumper early in the second quarter. Tamir Blatt and Luca Vildoza exchanged three-pointers, then Lessort's power layup boosted Panathinaikos's lead to 33-29. Grant sank a mid-range shot and Lessort added a layup for a 37-30 Panathinaikos margin. Nebo stepped up with a put-back slam that Vildoza bettered with back-to-back triples, making it a double-digit game at 43-32. Colson followed a three-point play with a turnaround jumper, then Nebo's tip-in gave Maccabi hope at 46-39. Lessort dunked again and Sloukas restored a 50-40 Panathinaikos lead. Antonius Cleveland got Maccabi within 50-42 at halftime.
Panathinaikos held on to lead
Baldwin scored in penetration soon after the break. Mitoglou sparked a 6-0 run which was highlighted by Sloukas's fastbreak layup. Colson sank a corner triple and Brown erased Mitoglou's circus shot with a mid-range jumper for a 58-49 Maccabi deficit. Even when Brown kept pacing Maccabi, Sloukas found ways to fix the hosts' offense, finding Lessort for a dunk and Mitoglou for a close jumper. Cleveland tried to change things with an off-balance three-point play and Rivero's basket made the Greens call a timeout at 64-59. Lessort and Webb traded dunks, then Panagiotis Kakaitzakis restored a 70-63 Panathinaikos lead after 30 minutes.
Down to the wire!
Baldwin took over with 5 quick points early in the fourth quarter, single-handedly bringing Maccabi within 70-68. Colson's three-pointer soon tied it at 71-71. Lessort scored three times in the paint but he didn't find much help around. Meanwhile, Colson insisted from downtown to complete Maccabi's comeback, 77-78, with 6 minutes left. Brown joined the three-point shootout but Grant scored in transition and matched Colson's jump hook with an off-balance basket for an 81-83 score. Colson hit free throws and Nebo's alley-oop dunk made it a five-point game, 82-87. Grant answered from downtown before Nunn's layup tied it at 87-87 with 52.7 seconds left. Brown banked in a close shot and Nebo drew a foul with 3.1 seconds remaining. He hit both attempts to give Maccabi the first win of the series!
