Panathinaikos BC has inked star guard Kendrick Nunn to a new contract that will keep him at OAKA until 2026. The deal includes an NBA out clause under specific conditions.

Kendrick Nunn renews at Panathinaikos until 2026

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has confirmed that [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/), one of the stars of the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, has renewed his contract at the club until the end of the 2025-26 season. As the Greens put it, 'under specific conditions, the player retains the right to use an NBA out clause.'

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός AKTOR ανακοινώνει την ανανέωση της συνεργασίας της με τον Κέντρικ Ναν ως το καλοκαίρι του 2026. Υπό συγκεκριμένες προϋποθέσεις ο αθλητής διατηρεί το δικαίωμα χρήσης NBA Out.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://t.co/nUvcESWCOh">pic.twitter.com/nUvcESWCOh</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1788212927335465280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### A very impactful debut campaign

Nunn (1.95 meters, 28 years old) joined Panathinaikos this season, making his EuroLeague debut against ALBA Berlin in Round 7. He is averaging 15.9 points on 41.0% three-pointers and 95.7% free throws, 2.6 assists, 3.0 assists and a PIR of 11.7. He ranks seventh in scoring and first in free-throw percentage.

The former Miami Heat guard did even better in the EuroLeague Playoffs, averaging 19.2 points on 51.6% three-pointers, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a PIR of 16.6. He had 27 points in Game 4 to lead Panathinaikos to an 88-95 victory which sent the series back to Athens, then scored 26 points in Game 5 [to help the Greens reach the Final Four](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-euroleague-playoffs-panathinaikos-returns-to-the-final-four-after-12-years/) for the first time since 2012.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard Kendrick Nunn dominated in the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Nunn's top plays in the 2024 playoffs

### Nunn's journey to Panathinaikos

Nunn finished his college career at Oakland University, averaging 26.1 points in 28 NCAA games. He played for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League and made his NBA debut with Miami, averaging 13.6 points in 82 games to make it to the 2019-10 NBA All-Rookie first team. 

Before joining Panathinaikos, Nunn also played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards in the NBA. He helped the USA national team to win respective gold medals at the 2011 U16 FIBA Americas Championship and the 2012 U17 World Cup. Nunn also helped Miami reach the NBA Finals in 2020. 

Kendrick Nunn in action for Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

The 28-year-old has shined bright in his rookie EuroLeague season

Just one win separates the teams from a spot at the Final Four, but who will come out on top?

Barcelona vs. Olympiacos: History on the line

When two giants come head to head, excitement is guaranteed. But add in the drama of a Game 5 and it goes into overload. That is the mouth-watering prospect awaiting fans who will be [tuning in to EuroLeague TV](https://tv.euroleague.net/) to watch [FC Barcelona and Olympiacos Piraeus face off](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/fc-barcelona-olympiacos-piraeus/E2023/327/) on Wednesday night (21:00 CEST).

This will be the 40th meeting this century between the Blaugrana and the Reds, with Barcelona having the historical edge after winning on 24 occasions to Olympiacos’s 15. However, for the first time in this matchup, a Game 5 will determine which team makes it to the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin, Germany.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="lt" dir="ltr">🏀 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘!<br>🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Olympiacos_BC</a> <br>📆 21.00h<br>🏆 Playoffs - GAME 5<br>📺 Movistar<br>📍 Palau Blaugrana<br>🔵🔴<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/For%C3%A7aBar%C3%A7a?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForçaBarça</a> <a href="https://t.co/JPCEBxvyfS">pic.twitter.com/JPCEBxvyfS</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1788101529989227009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

When Olympiacos stole Game 1 at Palau Blaugrana by coming away with a 75-77 victory, the momentum completely swung in favor of the Greek team. Not only had Georgios Bartzokas’s squad managed to overturn the home-court advantage in the first game of this best-of-five series, but they sent a statement to Barcelona that they are more than capable of winning at the Spanish team’s home, where Roger Grimau’s charges had gone a joint league-best 15-2 through the regular season.

Barcelona went away and licked its wounds ahead of Game 2 and hit back with a 77-69 win to level the series. When the action switched to the Greek city of Piraeus, a tight Game 3 went right down the wire before [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/) kept his cool from the free-throw line with 0.5 seconds remaining, going 2 for 3 to give Barcelona an 80-82 triumph. Suddenly, the two-time EuroLeague champion knew it needed just one win to advance to the Final Four and eliminate Olympiacos.

But, just as Barcelona had done ahead of Game 2, Olympiacos responded to a loss on its home floor by coming out on top in Game 4. While the first three games of this series had been tight, the Reds completely wiped the floor with Barcelona in Game 4. A 17-0 first-half run making it 53-37 at halftime before they went on to win 92-58, thus securing their second-biggest playoff win of all time. Will the confidence of that victory catapult Olympiacos to a win in Game 5? Will Barcelona be able to react after being humbled? We’ll find out soon enough.

### History on the line

If Olympiacos is able to pick up where it left off and win at Palau Blaugrana in Game 5, it would do something that no team has ever done – win on the road in a Game 5 situation. To date, home teams have gone 19-0 in Game 5s since the playoffs became best-of-five quarterfinals in 2009. By the time Olympiacos play, that could be 20-0 if AS Monaco manages to defeat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

That’s not the only piece of history Olympiacos is looking to overcome. Never before have the Reds made it to three Final Fours in a row, so there is also that hurdle to overcome. The Greek giants have reached European basketball’s showpiece event in each of the last two years, having also done so on two prior occasions this century – in 2009 and 2010, then in 2012 and 2013. Coach Bartzokas and his players therefore have the chance to knock off two demons in one go with a win on Wednesday night.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="lt" dir="ltr">Gameday! 🏀🔴⚪<br><br>🆚 FC Barcelona<br>🕒 22:00 🇬🇷<br>🏆 <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@euroleague</a> / Game 5<br>📌 Palau Blaugrana<br>📺 Novasports Prime<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://t.co/CfGRYgKP73">pic.twitter.com/CfGRYgKP73</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1788092623057514995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Curiously, a similar situation faces Barcelona. The Spanish club in the midst of a three-year run of playing at the Final Four, something it had only done once before this century – the three-year stretch between 2012 and 2014. As such, Barcelona can do something that it has never done in its history by appearing at a fourth straight Final Four. History is on the side of Coach Grimau’s men, given how Game 5s have always gone until now, and the fans inside Palau Blaugrana will be doing their all as the sixth man to push their team over the line.

Olympiacos does have the edge over Barcelona in Game 5 contests, going 4-1 all time compared to the Spanish team’s 4-2 mark, which includes a Game 5 triumph over Fenerbahce last year to advance to the Final Four. Yet, in a game that is incredibly hard to call, anything could happen. [Make sure to tune in to EuroLeague TV to watch the action unfold.](https://tv.euroleague.net/)

FC Barcelona v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-05-08T19:00:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket retained the services of its top performer for two more seasons by signing forward Semi Ojeleye to a contract extension, the club announced Wednesday. 

Valencia pens Semi Ojeleye to an extension through 2026

Valencia Basket retained the services of its top performer for two more seasons by signing forward [Semi Ojeleye](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/semi-ojeleye/011982/) to a contract extension, the club announced Wednesday. Ojeleye (1.98 meters, 29 years old) joined the club last summer and posted 13.3 points and 4.4 rebounds over 27 EuroLeague games. He ranked eighth in the league in three-point accuracy at 47.1% and was 17th in scoring. This season was his second in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games after Ojeleye debuted with Virtus Segafredo Bologna the year before.

Semi Ojeleye's best plays from the 2023-24 season

Before entering the EuroLeague, Ojeleye played five seasons in the NBA with the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers. He helped Boston reach the conference finals in both 2018 and 2020. Ojeleye played college basketball at Duke and Southern Methodist University. He was the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2017 when he led SMU to win the conference tournament. He helped Virtus reach the Italian League and the Italian Cup finals in his lone season there.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EstamosDandoVolteretas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EstamosDandoVolteretas</a> 🤸‍♂️<br><br>Cas 👉 <a href="https://twitter.com/semi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@semi</a> Ojeleye seguirá siendo taronja hasta 2026<a href="https://t.co/mlnPQO6pnh">https://t.co/mlnPQO6pnh</a><br><br>Val 👉 Semi Ojeleye continuarà sent taronja fins a 2026<a href="https://t.co/QV6oJM0sJR">https://t.co/QV6oJM0sJR</a><br><br>Eng 👉 Semi Ojeleye will stay as Taronja player until 2026<a href="https://t.co/rWfLgla2Bh">https://t.co/rWfLgla2Bh</a> <a href="https://t.co/bmAoFrOFdZ">pic.twitter.com/bmAoFrOFdZ</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1788171149689360710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More on Semi Ojeleye

The forward led the club in scoring and PIR this season

One game on Wednesday night will determine whether Monaco or Fenerbahce will be the next team to head to the Final Four in Berlin.

What to expect from Monaco against Fenerbahce in Game 5 

When [AS Monaco hosts Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/as-monaco-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2023/328/) in Game 5 on Wednesday, who do you want to win? Because it is easy to make either team look like the favorite based on the prism of which you see the game through. 

Ultimately, how you view the teams’ star power and injuries, the importance of home-court advantage, and the numbers that will shed some light. And after all that, 24 players will decide which of the teams heads to the Final Four based on their play on the hardwood.

### Who will play?

Naturally, the quality of the 12 players per team will be decisive and to date, both teams have had to do without some key talents. Only seven players have taken part in all four games for Monaco thus far. While some of those who have missed time have been healthy scratches, [John Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/john-brown/010588/) missed Games 3 and 4 due to a shoulder injury sustained in Game 2. Brown’s world-class defense would be a boost against Fenerbahce’s top scorer [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/). 

Fenerbahce has had to make do without the services of big man [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) all series long. His absence has forced [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) into a much larger role. Motley was considered a game-time decision before Game 4. If he can play on Wednesday and thus give Coach Jasikevicius more power in the paint, it would help the Turkish squad greatly. 

Fenerbahce produced a powerful performance to lead throughout the second half of Game 3, with solid contributions throughout the team leading to an 89-78 victory. Meanwhile, Monaco must find defensive answers and need more production from its backcourt stars, including Mike James, Jordan Loyd and Elie Okobo.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul -AS Monaco | Playoffs Game 4 | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### Are the stars up for the occasion? 

[Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) has stood out over his career as a big-game player. He boasts a career PIR average of 17.3 in the playoffs. Against Fenerbahce, however, his scoring and outside shooting have taken a hit. No doubt some of that is due to the excellent defense played by [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) and co. at Fenerbahce. Even so, Monaco could use more than the 11.2 points on 5-of-21 three-point shooting (23.8%) that James has delivered this far. Do you think James is due a big Game 5?

No player has had such extreme performances in one season as Hayes-Davis. On opening night, he was scoreless and posted a PIR of -6 in 30+ plus minutes at home against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. In Round 32, he set the EuroLeague single-game scoring record with 50 against ALBA Berlin, in a game that saw him post a PIR of 46. So far in this series, Hayes-Davis’s PIR has steadily dropped from game to game, going from 23 in Game 1 to 4 in Game 4. He has scored in double figures in every game, but has been just 6-for-21 from deep (28.5%). Fenerbahce could surely use a big night from its star.    

### Who is hot?

While James has been relatively quite for a player of his stature, several Monaco players have outperformed their regular-season numbers by a healthy margin. Center [Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/) has risen to the occasion, upping his regular-season numbers of 8.1 points and a PIR of 9.3 to 12.5 points and a PIR of 14.2. The big man has opened the floor with his 6-for11 three-point shooting (54.5%). [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) has also upped his numbers from 10.3 points and 8.5 PIR to 12.5 points and 12.2 PIR. And do-it-all swingman [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/) has raised his regular-season averaged by 1.5 points, 1 rebound and 1.2 PIR to 10.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and a PIR of 13.0.

[Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) has stepped up for Fenerbahce with 10.2 points, 3.2 assists and a PIR of 11.5 after producing 9.0 points, 2.4 dimes and a PIR of 9.7 in the regular season. Though he was much quieter in Games 3 and 4, [Tyler Dorsey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyler-dorsey/009849/) rocked in the two games in Monaco, averaging 19 points on 60% three-point shooting (9 of 15). Could these guards be the difference makers in Game 5? 

Monaco were able to snatch an exciting victory in Game 2 despite the first single-digit scoring this season from Mike James, who regain his high standards. They visit a Fenerbahce outfit fresh from that dramatic fourth quarter comeback and one that's scored at least 80 in nine consecutive home games.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul -AS Monaco | Playoffs Game 3 | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### Does experience matter?

Both teams played a Game 5 in the playoffs last season. While Monaco defeated Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, Fenerbahce came up short against Olympiacos Piraeus. Monaco lost to that same Olympiacos side in Game 5 in 2022, a year that saw Fenerbahce miss the playoffs entirely. Ten players from last season’s Monaco squad are still with the team as are five from the 2022 side. Eight players from last season’s Fenerbahce squad remain. So does experience in this game matter? Probably not too much.   

### What about home-court advantage?

Entering this season, the record of home teams in Game 5 of playoff series in the current format is 18-0. That goes to reason. Teams that host Game 5 are traditionally very strong at home. Monaco was 13-4 at home in the regular season. On the other hand, Fenerbahce’s five road wins during the regular season were the lowest among playoff teams. And Monaco is 3-2 all-time at home against Fenerbahce. All the signs point to this being an advantage for Monaco, though it is just that. Just an advantage. 

### Some numbers

By the numbers, Calathes has been the top player in the series with a PIR average of 15.0, which is ninth in the league. Monaco’s PIR leader in the playoffs is Motiejunas (13.5), who ranks 14th. No player on either team is among the playoff’s top 10 scorers. Papagiannis is third in rebounding (6.5 rpg.) and James is tied for seventh in assists (5.3 apg.). 

AS Monaco v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-05-08T17:00:00.000Z)

The anchor in the middle for Panathinaikos came through in the end after suffering a miserable night of free-throw shooting.

Lessort found redemption at the end of Game 5

It's fair to say that [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) endured a mixed night as [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens powered past Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, 81-72](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2023/329/), to seal a Final Four berth in Tuesday's electrifying playoffs decider.

First, the good. The Greek team's big man dominated the glass, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds including 6 at the offensive end, matching the club record in the playoffs. That played a major role in allowing Panathinaikos to win the physical battle by outrebounding Maccabi 41-33 and 19-13 in offensive boards, another Panathinaikos playoff record, against an opponent that is usually a specialist in that aspect of the game.

Lessort's physical prowess was also evident in the fact that Maccabi could only attempt to contain him by fouling him 8 times. But that just leads us to the bad side – historically bad, in fact – of Lessort's performance: free throw shooting.

The French center could only make 3 of his 14 shots from the foul line, meaning that he set a new EuroLeague playoffs record for missed free throws. Dejan Tomasevic previously held that dishonor, missing 9 free throws when he went 8-of-17 from the line for Buducnost in a loss at Real Madrid way back in 2001.

Lessort's total of 11 free throw misses was also only 1 off the all-time competition record for any stage of the season, set by Sofo Schortsanitis as he went 5-of-17 for Olympiacos against Efes in 2009.

At least Lessort can say he was in auspicious company as both Tomasevic and Schortsanitis went on to become EuroLeague champions in their careers.

Mathias Lessort Game 5 highlights

### From low point to redemption

In the first 5 minutes of the third quarter, Lessort missed on 6 consecutive free throw attempts, delivering a variety of misfires short, long and wide.

Those misses might have proved very costly, too, because they prevented Panathinaikos from creeping into a sustainable advantage, instead allowing Maccabi to stay right in the game during an intense third frame that featured seven lead changes and five ties. Indeed, Maccabi was ahead 49-53 with 3:30 left in that third quarter.

In the end, though, Lessort could breathe a big sigh of relief that his free throw mishaps didn't prove particularly important. Panathinaikos dominated the fourth quarter to put the outcome beyond doubt while he found redemption by playing a significant part in that surge. His consecutive baskets with less than 3 minutes remaining stretched a nervous 73-67 lead into a commanding double-digit advantage that sealed the deal and a Panathinaikos return to the Final Four after 12 years.

What's more, Lessort even broke his string of missed free throws, a moment that was met by a huge roar of approval from the frenzied Panathinaikos fans, whose support for their star center never wavered during his troubles from the line.

One thing is for sure, though. Maccabi's strategy of putting Lessort on the line rather than see him collect his trademark spectacular dunks won't be ignored by any of Panathinaikos's Final Four opponents in Berlin.

Whether it's through technical corrections or mental cleansing, Lessort has a fortnight now to work on his deficiencies from the line. Next time, on the Final Four stage, the pressure will become even more intense.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-05-07T18:15:00.000Z)

Despite the 81-72 loss to Panathinaikos B.C. Athens at OAKA Altion, there was tremendous pride in the Maccabi Tel Aviv locker room. 

Eliminated Maccabi’s Coach Kattash hailed his players as 'champions'

A long and grueling EuroLeague season came to an end for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv on Tuesday night when the team lost Game 5 of the playoffs for the second straight year. But after the 81-72 loss to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens at OAKA Altion, there was tremendous pride in the Israeli champs’ locker room.

“I am really proud of the players. For me that group of guys are real champions, even though we didn’t qualify for the Final Four,” head coach Oded Kattash said in the post-game press conference.

Despite missing its star player and All-EuroLeague Team candidate Wade Baldwin for all but 7 minutes of the last four games of the series, Maccabi pushed Panathinaikos to the limit and elicited praise from its opponents.

“Maccabi is not easy to beat. They gave us a heard series,” Panathinaikos’s top scorer Kendrick Nunn said in his post-game comments.

His backcourt mate Kostas Sloukas added: “I respect Kattash a lot; he’s a great coach. And they played without Baldwin.”

Game News

Missing Baldwin naturally marred Maccabi’s chances and when asked what he wished he could have done differently in the series, Katash replied: “Pray to God that Wade Baldwin wouldn’t get injured.”

“I am really proud of the players, don’t get me wrong. Even though we missed Wade for almost all the series, we fought hard. Usually we had a lack of energy. We missed some ball handlers at the end of games. We missed one of our biggest leaders and best players, even though we gave ourselves a chance and I am really proud of that. That was the moment that changed the series. But we proved that we are a really good basketball team, that we have character.”

Katash also spoke about “the spirit of the players”, which his captain John DiBartolomeo addressed.

“I think this team has a lot to be proud of,” DiBartolomeo said. “It’s one of my favorite teams that I’ve been on.”

DiBartolomeo played a bigger role in Baldwin’s absence and contributed 9 points, 3, rebounds, 3 assists and tough defense in 26 minutes on the floor.

Game Videos

“I think we showed a lot of character this year as a team,” center Josh Nebo added. “We showed a lot of resiliency through everything that we’ve been through. But obviously, with all that said, it’s still very disappointing that we didn’t get the job done. We were here last year and the goal for us was to make it to the Final Four. Overall, there is nothing to be disappointed with.”

Kattash summed up: “Nobody really gave us a chance after October 7. People maybe sometimes forget that we played only one homecourt game. Under those circumstances, to achieve what we achieved, that’s special. It’s hard to talk right now after you lose Game 5. That was my dream, I believe the players want is as much as I want it, as much as the coaching staff wants it – but we’re going to keep our heads up and we’re really proud of the way that we had this year, it’s really special.”

After falling in Game 5 in Athens, Maccabi’s head of bench spoke of how proud he was of the team

The love affair between Kendrick Nunn and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens grew on Tuesday night when the first-year guard poured in 13 fourth-quarter points to lead the Greens to a Game 5 victory over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and thus into the Final Four.

Kendrick Nunn’s scoring explosion sealed the outcome in Game 5

The love affair between Kendrick Nunn and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens grew on Tuesday night when the first-year guard poured in 13 fourth-quarter points to lead the Greens to a Game 5 victory over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and thus into the Final Four.

A sold-out OAKA Altion was on edge through the first three quarters, which featured 13 lead changes and ended with Panathinaikos up 58-56. With an injury keeping Kostas Sloukas sidelined for all but 19 seconds in the fourth quarter,  the Greens needed someone to carry them home. And Nunn was up to the task.

He made a technical free throw and a three-pointer in a 6-0 run to open the quarter that gave Panathinaikos its biggest lead to that point. And every time Maccabi tried to answer, it ran into Nunn.

Kendrick Nunn's big Game 5

When the final buzzer sounded and the celebrations began, Nunn had 26 points on 6-of-10 three-point shooting, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block for a PIR of 27. It was his third straight game with at least 25 points.

“I feel great. It was a big win for us, huge win. Credit to all the guys in the locker room, stepped up big. We got guys playing through injuries, things like that. It took the entire team,” said Nunn after the game.

“Maccabi’s not easy to beat. They gave us a hard series, but we came out victorious. It’s been crazy. It’s my third playoff run, and I'm just growing as a player, learning. I'm embracing everything. My teammates have been great, allowing me to do what I do. We did it together tonight, we did it defensively and we’ve got two more.”

After scoring 14 of his game-high 26 points in the final quarter to send Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens back to the Final Four, Kendrick Nunn said that he and his teammates just let their game speak.

Kendrick Nunn: 'We did it together'

When asked to comment about claims that the Panathinaikos backcourt of Sloukas and Nunn is the best in the league, Nunn replied: “I don’t have to say much, we just have to let our game speak.”

Their game spoke loud and clear in this series. Nunn, who is playing his first season in the EuroLeague after three seasons in the NBA, averaged 19.2 points on 51.6% three-point shooting in the series.

And next Nunn will put his game on display at the Final Four in Berlin.

The Panathinaikos guard finished with a game-high 26 points

Kendrick Nunn’s scoring explosion sealed the outcome in Game 5 

Panathinaikos BC is the second team to make it to the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four, joining Real Madrid Baloncesto.

 Panathinaikos returns to the Final Four after 12 years 

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is officially back on the path to its former glories. After more than a decade-long wait, the six-time Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions have returned to the Final Four for the first time since 2012 after ousting Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in a dramatic best-of-five playoff series. Head coach Ergin Ataman's squad finished the job on Tuesday night with an 81-72 win in Game 5, prompting big celebrations in the Greek capital.

A thrilling and high-scoring series is to come to an end. The Greens' backcourt duo of Kostas Sloukas and Kendrick Nunn look to maintain the form that saw them combine 47 points and 10 assists in Game 4, while Maccabi should feel confident inside the paint after Dinos Mitoglou and Mathias Lessort shared 30 points and 11 rebounds.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | Playoffs Game 5 | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

By qualifying for the Final Four, Panathinaikos has successfully completed a major turnaround, which seems to be Coach Ataman's specialty. A club that had not seen playoff basketball since 2019, and which had won a total of just 20 games over the previous two campaigns, put together a brand-new team that jelled in time to win 17 of its last 21 regular-season games. Panathinaikos followed that up by battling to register three playoff wins, thus earning the right to compete for glory in Berlin, Germany, later this month. The Greens will face the winner of AS Monaco and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul’s Game 5 clash, which takes place on Wednesday night.

### Journey to the 2024 Final Four

Even though the season did not start as everyone in Athens had hoped, it did not take too long for Coach Ataman to steady the ship. Panathinaikos lost four of its first six games and had a 6-7 record in early December, only for the team to win eight of its next nine games. That winning run saw Panathinaikos shoot up the standings, and the Greek giant never ranked lower than fourth place after Round 18.

Panathinaikos did need a strong regular-season finish to clinch home-court advantage in the playoff – and the team delivered, winning its last five games. It required each one of those, including a dramatic 79-81 win in Bologna on [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/)'s buzzer-beating game-winner.

Following a progressive campaign thus far, Virtus find themselves in free-fall succumbing to four successive defeats. They hope that the experienced Toko Shengelia can contain the marauding presence of Mathias Lessort and Dinos Mitoglou as the Greens clamour to cement their position in the top-four.

Virtus-Panathinaikos | Round 32 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

The ups and downs did not stop with the end of the regular season, however, as Panathinaikos lost that hard-earned home-court advantage with an 87-91 loss in Game 1 of its series against Maccabi. Led by [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) and [Ioannis Papapetrou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ioannis-papapetrou/005161/), the Greens bounced back with a 95-79 win in Game 2, but when the series moved to Belgrade, it was Maccabi that went back in front with a dramatic 85-83 win. Finding itself down 1-2 in the series, and with its backs against the wall, Panathinaikos leaned again on Sloukas, Nunn and [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) in Game 4, pulling out an 88-95 victory to force a Game 5.

With a do-or-die game in front of their passionate fans, the Greens were not going to let the opportunity slip away. In Game 5, Panathinaikos defeated Maccabi 81-72 after strong showings by Kendrick Nunn, with 26 points, and Kostas Sloukas , with 15.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Panathinaikos with a huge victory in GAME 5<a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@paobcgr</a> wins the series 3-2! <br><br>Now time for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F4GLORY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F4GLORY</a> <a href="https://t.co/qs66fqwAqd">pic.twitter.com/qs66fqwAqd</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1787942740782731662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

### Final Four experience

Even though the club has not been at the Final Four since 2012, a trio of Panathinaikos leaders have plenty of Final Four experience. None more so than three-time EuroLeague champion Kostas Sloukas, who will be competing in his 10th Final Four, after reaching five with Olympiacos Piraeus and four with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Sloukas has played in all but two Final Fours since 2012 and has appeared in seven championship games in that time.

Another Panathinaikos player who knows the feeling of competing at the Final Four is Ioannis Papapetrou, who went twice with Olympiacos – but not since 2017 – and lost in the championship game on both occasions.

Last but certainly not least, Coach Ataman is a two-time champion with Anadolu Efes Istanbul. Ataman first took Efes to the Final Four in 2000 and did the same with Montepaschi Siena in 2003 before three more trips with Efes between 2019 and 2022. In 2021 and 2022, the Turkish tactician guided the club to their first-ever EuroLeague titles.

It all comes down to this. Real Madrid, as the most-crowned team in EuroLeague history, take on reigning-champs Efes, who fight for the first back-to-back titles in almost a decade, but who will snatch the glory?

Real Madrid v Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Championship Game - Highlights

### Final Four history

The Greens might have been missing from Final Four action over the past 12 years, but the Final Four was synonymous with Panathinaikos in the decade before its last appearance. The Greek giants went to six Final Fours between 2002 and 2012, winning on four occasions – in 2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011 – and also getting there in 2005 and 2012, when it lost in the semifinals.

Also, Panathinaikos won EuroLeague titles in 1996 and 2000, with two more appearances in 1994 and 1995. Panathinaikos also reached the SuproLeague Final Four in 2001, which also happens to be the only title game it lost.

The return to European basketball’s showpiece event marks a very familiar feeling to the army of Panathinaikos fans, albeit one they needed a lengthy wait to feel once again.

The Greens are looking to become champions for the first time since 2011

Panathinaikos returns to the Final Four after 12 years

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens ended its 12-year wait to return to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four by overcoming Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, 81-72, in a very intensely contested Game 5 decider on Tuesday. 

Maccabi had the better of the opening exchanges, but Panathinaikos was spurred on by an electric atmosphere to gradually pull back and it was tied, 41-41, at halftime. The third quarter saw plenty of lead changes, ending with the hosts up 58-56 before the Greens scored the first 6 points of the fourth quarter to take control for good. 

Kendrick Nunn again led Panathinaikos with 26 points on 6-of-9 three-point shooting, while Kostas Sloukas, who ended the game injured, scored 15. Mathias Lessort netted 9 points despite missing 11 free throws and added 11 rebounds, while Juancho Hernangomez scored 11 and Ioannis Papapetrou contributed 10. 

Lorenzo Brown led Maccabi from the backcourt with 19 points and 7 assists, and Josh Nebo provided power in the paint with 14 points and 7 rebounds. 

The opening baskets came inside through Lessort and Jake Cohen, before John DiBartolomeo’s three gave Maccabi its first lead. Nebo and Brown stretched the edge to 4-9, but Papapetrou pulled Panathinaikos closer from deep. Cohen and Nebo were again on target to make it 8-15 with a 0-6 run, but triples from Nunn and Jerian Grant answered for the Greens. Hernangomez’s alley-oop layup and Sloukas’s transition bucket made it 19-21 after 10 minutes. 

Nunn and Tamir Blatt traded triples to start the second stanza before Nebo and Jasiel Rivero netted inside to keep Maccabi ahead. Nunn’s jumper capped a 5-0 run for a 29-28 lead, and Sloukas added a three. Nebo’s putback and Antonius Cleveland’s lucky missed dunk which dropped in forced another lead change, and James Webb III’s triple made it 34-37. Sloukas scored inside and Papapetrou netted from deep, but Rivero was strong at the rim to make it 41-41 at the interval. 

Brown’s jumper opened the second half scoring, but Papapetrou responded immediately. Bonzie Colson and Nunn traded three-point strikes before Sloukas and DiBartolomeo did the same for a 49-49 tie midway through the third. Nebo scored 4 points straight, but Hernangomez hit from long-range and Nunn scored twice from the line, 54-53. Blatt’s triple forced another lead change, but the Greens saw another swing as Hernangomez and Kostas Antetokounmpo scored from the line for a 58-56 lead after three quarters. 

Panagiotis Kalaitzakis lifted the Greens with a steal and slam to start the final period, and Nunn’s three-pointer completed a 10-0 run for a 64-56 lead. Brown’s jumper ended Maccabi’s spell of more than 6 minutes without scoring, but Nunn and Dinos Mitoglou scored from the line for a 68-58 lead. Blatt and Brown triples gave Maccabi hope, but Nunn responded with his own three-pointer and inside score. Brown hit again to make it 73-67, but Lessort’s consecutive putback and layup kept the Greens comfortable, and Nunn’s stepback three sealed the deal to spark huge celebrations. 

The Greens scored the first 6 points of the fourth quarter to pull away and never looked back

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Panathinaikos returns to the Final Four after 12 years

Panathinaikos celebrates after 81-72 Game 5 victory over Maccabi