Panathinaikos Athens evens Greek title series against Olympiacos

We’re all square in the Greek A1 finals series once again after Panathinaikos went big at home to defeat Olympiacos in Game 4. The best-of-five series is now evenly poised at 2-2 and the 2017 A1 title will be decided by a do or die contest.

Predicting which of Panathinaikos Athens or Olympiacos Piraeus will win that final contest is no easy task. However, the series has so far gone to home form, and Olympiacos has the floor in Game 5. With the decider in Piraeus, Olympiacos is surely favourite. Panathinaikos will need to produce on the road for the first time in this series to win its 35 title and first since 2014. Olympiacos is the current two year defending champ

In Game 4, Panathinaikos won 71-58, claiming a comfortable victory in the Greek capital.

The hosts started the game well, combining solid offence with a stern defence that stopped Olympiacos at 11 points and gave the home team 18 points. The Greens continued to control proceedings with 21 second quarter points. Olympiacos improved, but stopped at 17 points to make the score 39-28 through the long break.

After the locker room rest, Panathinaikos continued to hold the momentum. The hosts all but killed the game with a 20-11 third act that made it 59-39 through the long break. The guests rallied in the fourth period as Panathinaikos eased off the gas. Still, the home team cruised to victory. The Athens giant was certainly helped from the charity strip, claiming 19-20 (95 percent) of its free throws during the game.

Greek league top scorer Chris Singleton led the win with 14 points and 9 rebounds, while Nick Calathes also added 14 points. Mike James drained 13 points and Ioannis Bourousis nailed 12 points to the winning scoreboard.

Erick Green was the sole double-digit scorer for Olympiacos, but he did manage a game-high 20 points.