Valencia 81 – 64 Panathinaikos | EuroLeague – Round 33

Valencia Basket delivered a commanding performance at La Fonteta, defeating EuroLeague powerhouse Panathinaikos 81–64 on May 14, 2026. The victory reinforced Valencia’s position among the league’s elite and showcased their depth on both ends of the floor against a historic Greek opponent.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, Valencia set a relentless defensive tone, forcing Panathinaikos into rushed shots and 14 turnovers. The home team built an 11‑point lead by halftime and never allowed the Greens to pull within single digits in the second half. Valencia’s offensive efficiency—shooting 48% from the field and 38% from three‑point range—combined with their ability to control the boards (38 total rebounds to 29 for Panathinaikos) proved decisive.

Key Moments

• First‑quarter statement: Valencia opened with a 10‑2 run, highlighted by a steal‑and‑dunk from Chris Jones, forcing Panathinaikos to call an early timeout.
• Crushing third‑quarter stretch: After Panathinaikos cut the lead to 8 points, Valencia answered with a 15‑3 burst sparked by back‑to‑back triples from Xabi López‑Arostegui.
• Defensive lockdown: Panathinaikos star guard Kendrick Nunn was held to 11 points on 4‑of‑12 shooting, as Valencia’s rotating help defense consistently closed off driving lanes.

Tactical Story

Valencia head coach Álex Mumbrú designed a game plan that neutralized Panathinaikos’ pick‑and‑roll attack. By switching aggressively on screens and keeping a big man near the paint, Valencia dared Panathinaikos’ perimeter players to beat them—and they largely did not. Offensively, Valencia moved the ball crisply, recording 22 assists on 30 made field goals, with center Boubacar Touré serving as a hub from the high post (8 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists).

Standout Players

Valencia: Shooting guard Kassius Robertson led all scorers with 19 points, drilling 4‑of‑7 from deep. Point guard Chris Jones stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Forward Jaime Pradilla added 12 points and 8 rebounds off the bench.

Panathinaikos: Mathias Lessort fought hard for 13 points and 7 rebounds, but the backcourt—particularly Nunn and Jerian Grant—struggled to find rhythm against Valencia’s physical defense. Kostas Sloukas provided a spark with 8 assists but could not carry the scoring load alone.

Season Impact

With this win, Valencia improved to a 21‑12 record, solidifying a top‑four spot in the EuroLeague standings and strengthening their case for home‑court advantage in the playoffs. Panathinaikos, now 18‑15, remains in the playoff hunt but must address recurring road struggles—they have lost five of their last six away games. The result also marks a significant statement of intent from Valencia as they eye a deep postseason run.