Real Madrid became the first team to qualify for the 2019 Final Four by downing Panathinaikos OPAP Athens 82-89 in Game 3 of their playoff series in the Greek capital on Tuesday. Madrid swept the best-of-five series and reached its 10th Final Four since the format was adopted in 1988. Madrid, the winningest team in EuroLeague history with 10 crowns, kept its chance to win consecutive EuroLeague titles from the first time since 1968. Facu Campazzo shined with 16 points and 10 assists and Rudy Fernandez also scored 16 for the winners. Jeffery Taylor added 13 points and Anthony Randolph and Gustavo Ayon each netted 12 for Madrid. Nick Calathes paced Panathinaikos with 17 points and 7 assists, Matt Lojeski added 16 points, DeShaun Thomas 11 and Keith Langford 10. Campazzo and Fernandez shined early and an outstanding Taylor gave Madrid an 18-23 lead after 10 minutes. Trey Thompkins boosted the visitors' margin to 25-34, but Lojeski and Ioannis Papapetrou fueled a 16-2 run that gave Panathinaikos the lead, 41-36, at halftime. A three-pointer by Langford tied the game at 58-58 through 30 minutes. Lojeski gave Panathinaikos its last lead, 68-70, but an outstanding Ayon and three-pointers by Taylor, Randolph and Campazzo sealed the outcome down the stretch.
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