The two led big Panathinaikos runs to take the lead for good and later put the game away
Greens leaned on vets Sloukas, Papapetrou to bounce back
Статьи
3 Минутное чтение
When the first quarter came to a close on Thursday night at OAKA Altion, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens was in a hole. The Greens were down 1-0 in the series against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and trailing 20-28.
So who better to lean on than the team’s two most experienced players? Kostas Sloukas and Ioannis Papapetrou combined for 42 points in the remaining three quarters as Panathinaikos took charge 75-51 to win the game by 16 and even the series.
Sloukas, who played 3 minutes and made his only shot in the first quarter, played 26 of the last 30 minutes and finished with a career high 29 points. Papapetrou played 27 minutes in the last three quarters and scored a season-high 15.
Naturally, they were the players their head coach, Ergin Ataman, singled out after the game. And he spoke more about their defense than their scoring.
“Starting in the second quarter, especially after Sloukas came into the game, we started to make good defense, excellent defense,” Ataman said of the point guard. “Tonight, Sloukas offensively was perfect, maybe one of his best games of his career. Also on defense he put pressure on Lorenzo Brown.
“Papapetrou make a good job in defense against Bonzie Colson, who was one of the most important players in the first game that we lost.”
The numbers back up Ataman’s claims. Sloukas led all players in +/- with +27. Papapetrou was third with +21.
They first stepped up in the second quarter with Maccabi ahead 30-36. Sloukas then scored Panathinaikos’s next 11 points before Papapetrou accounted for 5 in a row to trigger a 19-2 run that gave the Greens the lead for good.
They were needed again in the fourth after the visitors rallied to within 71-68. Sloukas and Papapetrou accounted for 7 points and 3 assists in a 13-2 run that put the game on ice.
“There is no question about the quality of Sloukas, but more that quality, he is a leader,” Ataman went on to say. “Tonight he showed his quality. This will be very important for us in the next games.”
Seeing a huge game from Sloukas was not too surprising, considering that he was one of the club’s marquee signings over the summer and expected to deliver specifically in big games such as these in the playoffs. However, Papapetrou did not enter the game in the same situation.
Limited to only 11 regular-season games due to injury, he played just 2:44 in Game 1 and did not score. That led to a particularly motivated 30-year-old, who was asked after the game about the fact that he was seen on the court at OAKA shooting jumpers with his brother long after the game was over.
“I watched a lot of basketball but didn’t play much, so I went to practice straight after. It’s been my philosophy my entire career, through ups and downs I always want to be ready and help the team,” Papapetrou said.
He not only helped the team by making 4 of 7 three-pointers and adding 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, but Papapetrou helped limit Colson to just 6 points and 4 boards.
“I am very proud of our performance. We put in a lot of hustle, although we didn’t play as we planned in the first quarter,” Sloukas said. “I tried to do my best for the team, it was important to be mentally strong for this game.”
Panathinaikos will surely be happy to allow Sloukas and Papapetrou to make sure the team is ‘mentally strong’ in Belgrade next week when they play Games 3 and 4 of the series against Maccabi.
Game Videos
- 01:22
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/30/O8WZDwLviBOUDHjZHslMrL6CLIIE91hT-1746046313957.jpg]()
Kendrick Nunn: 'I'm just glad it's not my tooth!'
- 02:06
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/30/35nJF5ydXk35fDBoVWfxMlMMW41qpdSq-1746046352650.jpg]()
Konstantinos Mitoglou: 'We expect a tougher game in the next game'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/0c3a8223-b4f9-4317-8bba-6948f6dc3597.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/13f57545-937e-4d78-8973-441ce0fd36ad.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A78%3A82]()
Crucial block by Juancho! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/d64e1f28-6b0c-45e3-84b6-107de8c9df7d.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A78%3A114]()
Cedi Osman steals and dunks! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e17354f8-b7ce-452d-9a15-d80d4de50cf7.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/BzimVczXSTU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Follow the Fenerbahce-Paris Game 2 post-game press conference
- 01:55
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/24/kUsOCXwMUzHUi58pqDMxVi7JMFeuJeU9-1745527921968.jpg]()
Tarik Biberovic: 'Nothing is finished yet'
- 01:48
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/24/Adp4msR8njGBbPdPmMQJIroGyxFfbUjg-1745527805068.jpg]()
Nigel Hayes-Davis: 'Today we took a very big step forward'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/50OofhUsjZM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Paris Basketball | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/503f0235-ff26-4394-81a1-efc36b3a0a9b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A125%3A38]()
Kostas Sloukas with a crazy buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:26
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/0a7ab081-bf78-4744-9209-cef60c3e6412.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A182%3A47]()
Baldwin's buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/ce0b6b0d-6c6e-40c5-87f9-7b4a211dfd69.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A166%3A31]()
Jerian Grant shows big hustle! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:57
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/22/OG7vG6EyeGJFbm2kGVyhpjxVNValU5Xr-1745354407822.jpg]()
Juancho Hernangomez: 'We have a lot of talent, everybody can step up'
- 00:44
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/22/KjcSTkhf2aMMSVyvYCJXKBpHA8ISC45n-1745354439543.jpg]()
Jerian Grant: 'That's what championship teams do'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/d9020bd2-42d4-4eaf-89e5-aaea0842cf2e.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/22/n96YhWsSFpKfGjkKhsZuuCektsIoRy7I-1745354833470.jpg]()
Yurtseven at it again! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/beea360c-305d-4ba1-8a45-89e32aefcbd6.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A87%3A24]()
Grant seals the win! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5891d9a3-0bcf-4f64-ab11-47b2dc2e858a.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A115%3A30]()
Juancho flies to the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/156a71c3-c1c5-4945-b424-73a283cc80fa.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A29%3A41]()
Yurtseven on the alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/6Z4LRqBLipY/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Kendrick NUNN Got MIC’D UP and SCORED BIG | AS Monaco - Panathinaikos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/cy-lZO7EJYs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
The 7th Star - Trailer
- 00:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/11/vePQn7ZjWwzKlckpllUhKDYRLsHGRYqd-1744413709865.jpg]()
Kendrick Nunn: 'The one I'm most proud of is the 10 assists'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/d2db2da2-5747-4a2c-85d5-6c3fce493ffc.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/5918722c-7382-462a-a0fa-aa3394e822aa.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/5745c3ce-50b2-42e2-a95f-1d0feff48a07.jpeg?crop=1600%3A900%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
EuroLeague 25 Moments: When Panathinaikos took Virtus’s crown in 2002
- 00:39
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/03/aq1FCtuw70nji6NpCw4MUG5kvzRiex8j-1743716305491.jpg]()
Levi Randolph: 'This shows the character of our team'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/c4b532fc-d7f1-4e2a-9411-35bee2136916.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/03/PchRDipgrWw8Wm4qky502dJQhCdeRhKK-1743707912261.jpg]()
Kendrick Nunn: 'We came here with one job: to win'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/4990cf7f-d53c-41a1-9be1-9ff5569e3f25.jpg]()
AS Monaco-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7528d58e-ee90-4218-bdc1-3a7c9743d6b4.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A93%3A97]()
Title hereGabriel attacks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/848bf0eb-f634-416b-9d86-c9dab468d332.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Paris Basketball | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d609197f-c83a-4032-ac31-e10863a4c457.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/26/EOyWLssBSx43QuUhIqlSgaiej6czqdBG-1743025381196.jpg]()
Juancho Hernangomez: 'Great teams keep fighting until the end'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ef5799c3-50b4-4c70-b294-33bf62ebb034.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7528d58e-ee90-4218-bdc1-3a7c9743d6b4.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A68%3A100]()
Gabriel dominates on both ends! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e2e01d21-deb5-47f6-b9f7-bc119c8a2fe3.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A112%3A43]()
Nunn rejects Clark! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:42
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/21/H6TmEwqY82GcfHHbJGVPaFfTkyTeWkIE-1742597449396.jpg]()
Jerian Grant: 'It was one of the most special nights of my life'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e3b816b9-d399-410f-aac3-89d5687d83d2.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ac768296-293c-487a-939b-9f16e3e3e9b6.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A87%3A105]()
Nunn destroys the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a5531d46-00eb-44d5-9926-d78f7079edff.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A202%3A67]()
Papapetrou beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:18
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/20/I0InDLESANSOQCTKX6xT5kJX1FrsbBvh-1742506746633.jpg]()
Rokas Jokubaitis: 'We play for pride and are doing an amazing job'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2c426c46-4a59-4d27-92e2-3af7d1149ca7.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bda621c7-25cc-4c27-8184-ef3296b1e99f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A68%3A83]()
Jimmy Clark we have take-off! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/tHqpRVU6VVs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EuroLeague 25 Moments: Maccabi and its magical run to the 2014 title
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/994e7012-87de-49af-b5a5-6e9fbebfab2f.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 29 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/13/f91Cubn6nMbhEupPtMyAJXe7HlcRSCtQ-1741903307623.jpg]()
Trevion Williams: 'We just want to keep our foot on the gas'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9e0b1340-2909-42b9-86d4-dccc40a67987.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-AS Monaco | RS Round 29 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1a1efabe-44e0-4250-a23d-86dcce4fac53.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A154%3A33]()
Williams dunks off a Clark dish! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c6f9898d-76c4-4898-a009-6d33b9908b21.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A51]()
Williams opens the game in style! Motorola Magic Moment
