The Panathinaikos-Maccabi series, which begins on Tuesday, had two overtures during the EuroLeague Regular Season. Here's what happened.
This season's precedents: Panathinaikos vs. Maccabi
Article
3 Mins read
A dozen years have passed since Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv have crossed paths in the playoffs, but the memory of their epic five-game showdown in 2012 merely whets the appetite for this long-awaited rematch. Maccabi is 18-15 against the Greens overall this century, but Panathinaikos won the last two major showdowns between them: Game 5 in that 2012 series and the previous season's 2011 championship game.
Panathinaikos (23-11, second seed) hasn't seen a Final Four since winning that bygone series while Maccabi (20-14, seventh seed) hasn't been to one since taking the title in 2014. One of these multiple EuroLeague champions will break the spell at the end of this series and take its place once again in the big dance.
Here's what happened when they faced earlier this season.
In Round 4, Panathinaikos and Maccabi delivered an instant classic Maccabi led by as many as 14 at halftime, 24-39. Panathinaikos rallied and took a 72-70 lead into the final minute of the fourth quarter but Josh Nebo sent the game to overtime on a put-back layup off a free throw missed by Roman Sorkin. Once in the extra period, Tamir Blatt, Lorenzo Brown and Antonius Cleveland sealed the outcome from the free throw line. Bonzie Colson led the winners with 21 points and 8 rebounds. John DiBartolomeo added 15 while Brown, Nebo and Blatt added 12. Luca Vildoza led Panathinaikos with 15 points and Marius Grigonis added 13 for the Greens.
Baldwin nailed down Maccabi’s sweep
In their Round 23 rematch Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, it was a close game for 32 minutes, when a three-pointer by Grigonis got Panathinaikos within 64-62. Maccabi found its go-to guy in Wade Baldwin, who had not faced Panathinaikos in the first game due to injury. Baldwin scored 7 quick points, getting help from Nebo and James Webb to seal the outcome, 77-69, with over 2 minutes remaining. The eventual 90-75 outcome, behind 22 points from Baldwin, gave Maccabi a season sweep of the Greens. Colson, Nebo and Lorenzo Brown each added 14 for Maccabi. Despite grabbing a season-high 20 offensive rebounds, Panathinaikos could not prevail. Panagiotis Kalaitzakis led the Greens with 17 points.
Game Videos
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Jokubaitis's buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:59
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Jerian Grant: 'Guys were hurt, we had to step up'
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 20 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 20 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
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Kalaitzakis flushes it down on the break! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
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Fine dunk from Yurtseven! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
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Big dunk from Hernangomez! Motorola Magic Moment
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The Fantasy Challenge Podcast gang debates new topics in episode No. 15
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Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:25
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Kendrick Nunn: 'Omer Yurtseven's performance is not a surprise'
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:08
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Hernangomez steals and dunks! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:19
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Yurtseven posterizes Akele Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:57
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Kostas Sloukas: 'We dedicate this win to Mathias Lessort'
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FC Bayern Munich-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
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Nunn hammers it home on the break! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:58
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Jaylen Hoard: 'Happy about the way we played defense today'
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:42
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Kendrick Nunn: 'We need everyone to keep Mathias in their prayers'
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Lessort rocks the rim in style! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:51
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Kendrick Nunn: 'We needed that energy, that spark'
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
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Samodurov's big block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
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Roman Sorkin drives for a dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:19
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Nunn with another ankle-breaker! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:24
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Nunn breaks Ricci's ankles! Motorola Magic Moment
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
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Juancho drives for big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
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FC Bayern Munich-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:08
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Hoard dunks off a Blatt alley-oop dish! Motorola Magic Moment
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Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-FC Barcelona | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
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Gabriel’s block on Hernangomez! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
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Lessort soars! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:29
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Kendrick Nunn: 'I came in ready'
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-FC Barcelona | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Paris Basketball | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
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Lessort with a steal and a dunk in transition! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:30
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Nunn with another midcourt buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:26
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Nunn beats the buzzer again! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:20
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Nunn with a buzzer-beating mid-court triple! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:31
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What a power slam by Lessort! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-AS Monaco | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:27
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Lessort has lift-off! Motorola Magic Moment
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ALBA Berlin-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
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DeJulius hits a buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
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Hoard's reverse alley-oop dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
