19
Sep
EuroLeague x NBL
Nunn leads Panathinaikos past Partizan in Melbourne opener
Jerian Grant of Panathinaikos in action at John Cain Arena. Photo: @traviphotography
Panathinaikos beat Partizan 91-82 in Melbourne to open the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament.
- Kendrick Nunn scored 21 points with eight assists as Panathinaikos secured the win.
- Both clubs now head to Sydney for Sunday’s games at Qudos Bank Arena.
- How Partizan fuelled Dante Exum's return to the NBA
Panathinaikos BC opened the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament with a 91–82 win over KK Partizan at a sold-out John Cain Arena.
EuroLeague superstar Kendrick Nunn led Panathinaikos from the front with 21 points, eight assists, and two rebounds. Omer Yurtseven added 20 points and 13 rebounds. Nikos Rogkavopoulos scored 10 points, while Jerian Grant finished with nine points and six assists.
Juancho Hernangomez contributed nine points and eight rebounds, and Vassilis Toliopoulos and Ntinos Mitoglou each added seven.
For Partizan, Duane Washington scored 19 points including five three-pointers. Jabari Parker had 18 points and eight rebounds, Dylan Osetkowski posted 16 points and five assists, and Sterling Brown added 13 points with six rebounds and five assists.
NBL director Nikola Milivojevic was thrilled by the high-quality nature of the game and atmosphere produced by the fans.
“To have close to 11,000 people in the arena and a true split between Panathinaikos and Partizan supporters is something we have never seen before on Australian soil in basketball,” NBL director Nikola Milivojevic said.
“We will all get to witness and experience the passion and energy these clubs bring, and it sets the perfect stage for the Sydney games on Sunday where fans can expect the same intensity and spectacle.”
Both teams now travel to Sydney for Sunday’s fixtures at Qudos Bank Arena. Partizan will face the Sydney Kings at 4.30 pm AEST, followed by Panathinaikos against Adelaide at 7.00 pm AEST.
“The success of this tournament is a testament of the legacy that Pavlos Giannakopoulos left behind,” Panathinaikos president Vassilis Parthenopoulos said.
“He was a visionary leader and the heart of Panathinaikos for decades.
“We are so proud to showcase our club in front of our passionate supporters in Melbourne tonight, and to do the same in Sydney on Sunday.”
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