Panathinaikos BC AKTOR was defeated on the road by AS Monaco with a score of 92–84, in a game for Round 8 of the EuroLeague regular season. Top scorer for the Greens was Kendrick Nunn, who finished with 26 points.

The hosts started the game better and led 9–4 at the 3-minute mark, but Panathinaikos BC AKTOR responded to cut it down to 11–9 in the 5th minute. The Greens tied the game at 11–11 in the 6th and went ahead 14–13 a minute later. However, AS Monaco replied with a 9–0 run to go up 22–14 at 9’, closing the first quarter in front 27–20.

In the 12th minute, the Greens came within 27–24, but by the 14th AS Monaco had pulled away again, 37–29. The lead grew to double digits at 16’ (44–32) and became 46–32 at 18’, before Panathinaikos BC AKTOR trimmed it to 47–37 at 19’. The halftime score was 50–41 for the hosts.

At 22’, Panathinaikos BC AKTOR cut the margin to 50–48, but AS Monaco went on another run to make it 65–53 at 26’. The Greens reduced it to 65–58 at 28’, yet the third quarter ended with the home team ahead 68–58. In the 32nd minute, AS Monaco extended its lead to 75–62, and by the 35th, it reached 85–64. Panathinaikos BC AKTOR made a late push, cutting the deficit to nine points (91–82) after a corner three by Osman, who also hit a buzzer beater to set the final score at 92–84 in favor of AS Monaco.

Quarters: 27–20, 50–41, 68–58, 92–84.

AS Monaco (Spanoulis): Okobo 15 (1), Blossomgame 11 (1), Michineau, Theis 6, Diallo 9 (1), Hayes 6, Tarpey, Begarin, Nedovic 11 (2), Strazel 12 (2), Mirotic 9 (1), James 13.
Panathinaikos BC AKTOR (Ataman): Shorts, Kalaitzakis, Osman 9 (1), Sloukas 14 (3), Grant 5, Kouzeloglou, Nunn 26 (2), Toliopoulos, Grigonis, Hernangomez 13 (2), Mitoglou 8, Yurtseven 9.

Ataman: “We tried to come back, but we missed easy shots”

The head coach of Panathinaikos BC AKTOR, Ergin Ataman, spoke at the Press Conference following the team’s away game against AS Monaco:

“We didn’t start the game well. We allowed them to score 27 points in the first quarter. We came here with only one center, Yurtseven, who picked up three early fouls. After that, of course, it wasn’t easy. We couldn’t protect the paint properly, and Monaco has excellent offensive players. Especially James and Okobo, who attacked the rim very effectively and built their lead.

In the third quarter, we tried to come back, but we missed some easy shots, some free throws, and gave them the chance to extend the gap again. AS Monaco deserved the win tonight — I think they played better than us. As for a possible signing of a center, we’ll see. It’s not the time to discuss that now. We’ll see.”