Vesely returns, pushes Fenerbahce past Panathinaikos

Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul outlasted Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens 67-62 in a hard-fought contest at Ulker Sports and Event Hall. Jan Vesely made his return after a one-game absence and shined in the fourth quarter with 6 points, 4 rebounds and a big block to help spark the champs to victory. The outcome left both teams with 12-6 records for third-place in the standings. The champs also gained the head-to-head tiebreaker over Panathinaikos, which won their first meeting by 2 points. Jason Thompson paced Fenerbahce with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting plus 7 rebounds, Vesely posted 12 points, 8 boards and 2 blocks and Kostas Sloukas scored 11. Chris Singleton led Panathinaikos with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Nick Calathes added 13 points and 7 assists. The visitors led by 3 entering the fourth and trailed by just 1 in the final minute, but some key offensive rebounds for Fenerbahce, a great defensive stand and made free throws were the difference in the end.

Sloukas scored twice in an 8-3 start by the hosts, but Calathes soon had the Greens back within 1 and Singleton’s three-pointer pushed Panathinaikos ahead 10-12. Vesely came off the bench and made a grand entrance with a reverse slam. Fenerbahce got threes from Sloukas and Melih Mahmutoglu to take a 4-point edge, but Singleton hit a pair of triples – including a mid-court buzzer-beater at the end of the quarter – to give Panathinaikos an 18-20 lead after 10 minutes. Thompson scored three baskets in an 8-0 Fenerbahce start to the second quarter, which prompted a Panathinaikos timeout. Lukas Lekavicius ended the Panathinaikos drought with a three-pointer. Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Marcus Denmon each drew the visitors within 1, but Fenerbahce answered each time to remain in front. Ali Muhammed gave Fenerbahce its biggest lead, 33-27, with a three-pointer. Calathes answered from downtown before Vesely scored inside to make it 35-30 at the break.

Panathinaikos scored on its first three possessions of the second half to give the visitors a 1-point edge. Sloukas free throws put the hosts back ahead, 37-36. The pendulum swung ahead after K.C. Rivers made 3 free throws and Singleton hit his fourth three-pointer to make it 39-42. Rivers put the Greens up 4 with a triple, but Fenerbahce came back to tie it at 47-47 on a fade-away jumper by Nicolo Melli. Nikos Pappas connected from downtown to give Panathinaikos a 47-50 advantage through three quarters. Marko Guduric fired in a three from the corner that gave the hosts a 52-50 lead and fired up the home crowd two minutes into the fourth quarter. Vesely took charge with a dunk and a spectacular block and Melli nailed a three for a 57-51 lead with less than five minutes remaining. Panathinaikos halved the deficit, but Vesely came through with a tip-in. A second-chance basket by Pappas drew the visitors within 2 and Calathes added a jumper to make it 61-60 entering the final minute. Brad Wanamaker made a third-chance layup and after Denmon missed a tough three, Luigi Datome made it a two-possession game with 2 free throws with 14.3 seconds to go to all but clinch the victory.