Panathinaikos AKTOR B.C. vs Paris: Panathinaikos Dominate 91-72 in EuroLeague Home Win

Panathinaikos AKTOR B.C. produced a commanding EuroLeague performance at OAKA on September 25, 2026, defeating Paris 91-72 behind a balanced offensive attack and a defense that never allowed the French club to settle into its preferred rhythm. The 19-point margin reflected the hosts’ control from the opening quarter onward, with Panathinaikos leading for nearly the entire contest and pulling away decisively after halftime.

The result gives Panathinaikos an important early-season boost in the EuroLeague standings and a strong point-differential advantage. For Paris, the night in Athens became a lesson in how punishing EuroLeague road games can be when turnovers pile up and the opponent controls the glass.

Match Overview

• Final score: Panathinaikos AKTOR B.C. 91, Paris 72
• Competition: EuroLeague
• Venue: OAKA, Athens
• Date: September 25, 2026
• Quarter scores: 24-18, 47-36, 72-55, 91-72

Panathinaikos set the tone early with aggressive perimeter defense and quick transition offense. Paris stayed within striking distance in the first quarter, but the Greek club’s depth and physicality gradually turned the game into a one-sided affair. By the middle of the third quarter, the contest was firmly in Panathinaikos’s hands.

How Panathinaikos Built the Win

The hosts opened with a clear plan: pressure Paris’s ball handlers, deny easy entries into the paint, and force the visitors into contested jump shots. That approach worked almost immediately. Panathinaikos closed the first quarter with a 24-18 lead, then expanded the margin with a 10-0 run early in the second period that pushed the advantage into double digits.

Offensively, Panathinaikos played through a mix of pick-and-roll actions and isolation scoring. When Paris switched smaller defenders onto the ball, Panathinaikos punished the mismatch inside. When the French club sent help, the hosts moved the ball to the opposite corner for open three-point looks. The result was a balanced scoring line that made Paris’s defensive game plan increasingly difficult to sustain.

By halftime, Panathinaikos led 47-36. The decisive stretch came in the third quarter, when the home side opened with a 13-2 burst to stretch the lead to 60-38. Paris never recovered fully, and although it found brief offensive rhythm late in the period, Panathinaikos entered the final quarter ahead 72-55.

Key Moments

• First quarter – Panathinaikos establish control: The hosts used early steals and second-chance points to build a 24-18 lead, with Kendrick Nunn and Mathias Lessort combining for most of the early scoring.
• Second quarter – The 10-0 run: Panathinaikos turned a six-point edge into a 34-18 advantage, forcing Paris into back-to-back turnovers and hurried shots.
• Third quarter – The knockout burst: A 13-2 run out of halftime made it 60-38 and effectively ended Paris’s hopes of a road comeback.
• Fourth quarter – Closing composure: Paris trimmed the deficit slightly with bench scoring, but Panathinaikos answered every mini-run with free throws and disciplined half-court execution.

Tactical Story

Panathinaikos’s defensive versatility was the defining feature of the game. The hosts switched aggressively on screens, limited Paris’s transition opportunities, and forced the visitors into a half-court offense that lacked movement. Paris star guard TJ Shorts still created chances with his speed, but Panathinaikos consistently met him at the rim with help defenders and length.

On the boards, Panathinaikos held a clear advantage, finishing with a 38-29 rebounding edge. That margin gave the Greek club extra possessions and prevented Paris from using second-chance points to stay close. Panathinaikos also took care of the ball, committing only nine turnovers compared to Paris’s fifteen.

Paris’s best moments came when it played small and pushed the pace. Nadir Hifi hit a few difficult shots, and Collin Malcolm found space in the corners. But those flashes were too isolated. Every time Paris seemed ready to make a run, Panathinaikos responded with a defensive stop or a timely three-pointer.

Standout Players

• Kendrick Nunn (Panathinaikos): Led all scorers with 21 points, adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Nunn’s shot-making in the first half set the offensive tone.
• Mathias Lessort (Panathinaikos): Dominated the paint with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks, consistently finishing through contact.
• Kostas Sloukas (Panathinaikos): Controlled the tempo with 1