Bacon's bittersweet stay in Valencia
Panathinaikos Athens arrived to Valencia on a four-game winning streak led by Dwayne Bacon, who missed his team's practice first practice in Spain on Monday due to a severe dental problem. He had a tooth extracted the night before his team's Round 13 game against Valencia Basket.
Bacon then struggled throughout the first half against Valencia Basket, missing his first 8 shots and getting just 1 point through 27 minutes. He found his first bucket, a floater, with 2:07 remaining in the third quarter. Once Bacon got going, however, he was completely unstoppable. He buried a couple more jumpers to bring Panathinaikos within 66-63 late in the third quarter.
Far from being done, Bacon made sure his team got a chance to win the game, scoring in all possible ways: step-back jumpers, attacking the rim, playing one-on-one, and pulling the trigger from downtown. Bacon had 10 fourth-quarter points and the chance to win the game at the buzzer with an 84-84 tie, but got distracted in the final seconds, probably thinking he had more time to create his own shot. In the end, Bacon had to take a 10-meter prayer that hit the rim.
Once in overtime, Bacon had 8 more points to finish the game with 22, but it was not enough to win the game. Valencia prevailed 94-91, but Bacon once again proved that even after a bad start, he can find his own rhythm and help his team be as competitive as it can be. Panathinaikos was 1-4 without Bacon, and is 5-3 since his arrival. Bacon is now the competition's top scorer (20.5 ppg.), edging Will Clyburn of Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20.4 ppg.).