Peristeri stun Panathinaikos to end Trifylli’s unbeaten run
 

GREEK BASKET LEAGUE - ROUND 21

Panathinaikos’ long unbeaten run in the Greek Basket League is over after a shock defeat at the hands of Peristeri on Sunday night…

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Panathinaikos suffered their first defeat of the season after Peristeri struck for an 80-72 upset win at the Andreas Papandreou Indoor Hall on Sunday night.

A fourth quarter collapse condemned Panathinaikos to their first loss of the season and first regular season loss since the 2016-2017 campaign – a streak that added up to 70 straight wins.

Steven Gray’s 27 points led the way for Peristeri while Ben Bentil finished with yet another double-double as he posted 21 points and 13 rebounds in the win.

Panathinaikos, who were without Nick Calathes on the night, were led by Deshaun Thomas’ 15-point effort while Keith Langford added 12 points for Rick Pitino’s side.

The game, which was played behind closed doors due to the crowd trouble during Peristeri’s recent fixture with Aris, started off with both sides countering each other’s every move as Panathinaikos grabbed a 22-20 after the opening 10 minutes.

Panathinaikos extended their lead in the second quarter as a 23-16 run from the visitors gave the Trifylli a healthy 45-36 advantage heading into halftime.

Peristeri clawed into the Panathinaikos lead after halftime as a 19-15 run cut the Panathinaikos lead to just five points (60-55) heading into the final frame.

It was in the final frame that the script of the game was turned on its head as Peristeri’s most dominant stretch of the contest, a 25-12 run in favour of the home side, stunned the Panathinaikos bench en route to the final buzzer.

The defeat snaps Panathinaikos’ 20-game unbeaten run though the Trifylli still sit comfortably atop the league standings with just five rounds of action remaining in the regular season.

Peristeri, meanwhile, improved to 14-7 on the season to keep pace with both PAOK and Promitheas in a three-way tie for fifth – a logjam that could ultimately decide the fourth-seeded side in the playoffs if Olympiacos’ points deduction is upheld.

Panathinaikos will look to rebound in the EuroLeague in a crucial meeting with Budocnost VOLI Podgorica at the OAKA Olympic Indoor Hall on Thursday with a win clinching a playoff berth for the Trifylli.

by Peter Katsiris

Image Source: SDNA.gr

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