The Olympiacos guard plays sparingly but his spirit is infectious.

Giannoulis Larentzakis, Olympiacos: 'I wanted to test myself'

Hustle. Energy. Passion. Those are three intangibles that perfectly describe local hero [Giannoulis Lartentzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/giannoulis-larentzakis/010392/) of Olympiacos Piraeus. He is currently in his fourth straight Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season – all of them with the Reds – and he has settled for being a reliable role player that all his teammates can count on.

"I wanted to test myself to see if I could compete at this level," Larentzakis explains. "The coach gave me a chance and I took full advantage of it."

This season, Larentzakis is averaging 5.4 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 32 appearances off the bench at more than 13 minutes per game. Numbers don't do full justice to Larentzakis's strengths, however.

"He's a fighter," teammate Isaiah Canaan asserts. "As a teammate, you can't ask any more from one of your teammates that you go out there to war with."

Olympiacos is currently leading a best-of-five playoff series against FC Barcelona with the goal of reaching its third consecutive Final Four in Berlin next May. The secret behind that level of excellence?

"The coach's philosophy is mostly based on the relationships between teammates, between players and the coaching staff," Larentzakis reveals. "I hope we keep working together for a long time."

It's a recipe that could lead Olympiacos to its fourth European crown. The next step: Game 2 at Palau Blaugrana on Friday night.

Real Madrid guard Facu Campazzo was back to his best on Thursday night, scoring and assisting in a 101-90 Game 2 win against Baskonia in the 2023-24 EuroLeague Playoffs.

Facu Campazzo has rediscovered his best form at just the right time

Coming off a game in which he played just 18:15 minutes, his third-lowest tally of the season, [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) was ready to make things happen against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on Thursday night.

Real Madrid got its playoff campaign off to a great start in Game 1, [winning 90-74](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-blasts-baskonia-90-74-in-series-opener/) on a night that saw Campazzo amass 10 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal and 0 turnovers. A couple of days later, the reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion became the only playoff team to move to 2-0 by [defeating Baskonia 101-90](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-knocks-off-baskonia-in-game-2-101-90/) in Game 2.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Got the MVP of the night in the locker room🤳<br><br>24 points and 7 assists tonight for <a href="https://twitter.com/facucampazzo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@facucampazzo</a> 📈<a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> <a href="https://t.co/TiRYRkqASe">pic.twitter.com/TiRYRkqASe</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1783606759778578651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Having had a so-so end to the regular season and a relatively quiet start to the playoffs, the Argentine point guard put on a show for the WiZink Center crowd in Game 2, finishing the game with a postseason career high of 24 points, as well as 4 rebounds and 7 assists.

Campazzo broke the 20-point barrier for just the third time this season, having had a career-high 33 points in Round 11 and 25 points in Round 19, and 14 of those points came in a helter-skelter first half that was played at an incredibly high pace. After the break, however, the 33-year-old began to dictate the play and Real Madrid soon took control, with Campazzo dishing 5 helpers in the second half.

Facundo Campazzo had 24 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists in Real Madrid's Game 2 win against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Campazzo's highlights vs. Baskonia

“I think we played two different games,” Campazzo told EuroLeague TV afterward. “In the first half, we had some ups and downs but we stayed together. In the second half, we played with more hustle, way smarter than the first quarter. This team is \[a lot more\] dangerous when we pass the ball to one another, so we’ve got to keep doing that next week.”

### Eyeing EuroLeague glory

There’s no question that Campazzo playing at this level elevates Real Madrid as a team. As the only senior member of the roster who was not a part of last year’s title-winning squad, there is an added hunger inside the playmaker. He has, admittedly, already won two EuroLeague titles – in 2015 and 2018 – but doing so in his first season back in the Spanish capital would be something special.

With Real Madrid leading 2-0 after Games 1 and 2, the series now heads to Vitoria-Gasteiz. In Game 3, Baskonia will host Chus Mateo’s men at Buesa Arena – and Campazzo isn’t expecting an easy contest.

“We want to play with hustle, take smart decisions,” he noted. “Like I said before, today one guy can score, the next game another guy can score. This team is capable of that. We’ve got to keep doing this, keep fighting, keep playing with hustle because it’s the only way. Every game is going to be different from now on, so we’ve got to be ready for a tough game in the third one.”

After an explosive Game 2 performance, Facundo Campazzo of Real Madrid talks about the attitude that has his team one win away from a Final Four return.

Facundo Campazzo, Real Madrid: 'We want to play with hustle'

That hustle that Campazzo touches on there was certainly on display late on Thursday night. With Real Madrid leading 101-88 and 30 seconds to go, the Argentine dived to the floor three times to try to keep the ball inbounds. The game was well and truly over at that point, but his effort was a sign that *Los Blancos* are not taking anything for granted; they are completely locked in.

Campazzo ended up earning a round of applause from the WiZink Center crowd for his efforts, capping off an excellent night that saw him earn MVP of the Game honors.

Facundo Campazzo earned a round of applause from the WiZink Center crowd after a hustle play in the final seconds of Real Madrid's Game 2 win against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Campazzo's hustle play in 4Q vs. Baskonia

Real Madrid now needs just one more win to return to the Final Four for the 10th time this century, and Campazzo and co. will be looking to complete the series sweep when Game 3 takes place next Wednesday night.

Campazzo seems to have rediscovered his best form at just the right time, which should be a warning to not only Baskonia but also Real Madrid's potential opponents at the Final Four.

Game News

Real Madrid's Facundo Campazzo celebrates during his team's Game 2 win against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Whether he was scoring or assisting, the Argentine wizard was front and center in Game 2

Real Madrid v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-04-25T19:00:00.000Z)

Kostas Sloukas and Ioannis Papapetrou combined for 42 points in the remaining three quarters as Panathinaikos took charge 75-51 to win the game by 16 and even the series.

Greens leaned on vets Sloukas, Papapetrou to bounce back

When the first quarter came to a close on Thursday night at OAKA Altion, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens was in a hole. The Greens were down 1-0 in the series against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and trailing 20-28.

So who better to lean on than the team’s two most experienced players? Kostas Sloukas and Ioannis Papapetrou combined for 42 points in the remaining three quarters as Panathinaikos took charge 75-51 to win the game by 16 and even the series.

Sloukas, who played 3 minutes and made his only shot in the first quarter, played 26 of the last 30 minutes and finished with a career high 29 points. Papapetrou played 27 minutes in the last three quarters and scored a season-high 15.

Naturally, they were the players their head coach, Ergin Ataman, singled out after the game. And he spoke more about their defense than their scoring.

Ioannis Papapetrou was the x-factor in Game 2

“Starting in the second quarter, especially after Sloukas came into the game, we started to make good defense, excellent defense,” Ataman said of the point guard. “Tonight, Sloukas offensively was perfect, maybe one of his best games of his career. Also on defense he put pressure on Lorenzo Brown.

“Papapetrou make a good job in defense against Bonzie Colson, who was one of the most important players in the first game that we lost.”

The numbers back up Ataman’s claims. Sloukas led all players in +/- with +27. Papapetrou was third with +21.

They first stepped up in the second quarter with Maccabi ahead 30-36. Sloukas then scored Panathinaikos’s next 11 points before Papapetrou accounted for 5 in a row to trigger a 19-2 run that gave the Greens the lead for good.

They were needed again in the fourth after the visitors rallied to within 71-68. Sloukas and Papapetrou accounted for 7 points and 3 assists in a 13-2 run that put the game on ice.

“There is no question about the quality of Sloukas, but more that quality, he is a leader,” Ataman went on to say. “Tonight he showed his quality. This will be very important for us in the next games.”

Seeing a huge game from Sloukas was not too surprising, considering that he was one of the club’s marquee signings over the summer and expected to deliver specifically in big games such as these in the playoffs. However, Papapetrou did not enter the game in the same situation.

Limited to only 11 regular-season games due to injury, he played just 2:44 in Game 1 and did not score. That led to a particularly motivated 30-year-old, who was asked after the game about the fact that he was seen on the court at OAKA shooting jumpers with his brother long after the game was over.

After making a cameo in Game 1, veteran Ioannis Papapetrou was a force for Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens as it evenen up its series with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

Ioannis Papapetrou, Panathinaikos: 'The series starts now'

“I watched a lot of basketball but didn’t play much, so I went to practice straight after. It’s been my philosophy my entire career, through ups and downs I always want to be ready and help the team,” Papapetrou said.

He not only helped the team by making 4 of 7 three-pointers and adding 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, but Papapetrou helped limit Colson to just 6 points and 4 boards.

“I am very proud of our performance. We put in a lot of hustle, although we didn’t play as we planned in the first quarter,” Sloukas said. “I tried to do my best for the team, it was important to be mentally strong for this game.”

Panathinaikos will surely be happy to allow Sloukas and Papapetrou to make sure the team is ‘mentally strong’ in Belgrade next week when they play Games 3 and 4 of the series against Maccabi.

Game Videos

The two led big Panathinaikos runs to take the lead for good and later put the game away

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-04-25T18:15:00.000Z)

Real Madrid guard Sergio Llull was honored before Game 2 against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and then significantly helped his team to get a 101-90 victory.

Sergio Llull's double celebration

It was a special night for Real Madrid guard [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/). The veteran was honored before Game 2 of his team's playoff series against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, then played a significant role in helping his team to record [a 101-90 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-knocks-off-baskonia-in-game-2-101-90/) to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. 

In Game 1, Llull became the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague's all-time leader in made three-pointers, moving past former FC Barcelona great [Juan Carlos Navarro](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/juan-carlos-navarro/adi/). Of course, that fact did not go unnoticed and Real honored him in a pre-game ceremony, which saw club president Florentino Perez hand him a special jersey with number 624 (the number of three-pointers he'd made before Game 2). A commemorative video was shown on the scoreboard, too.

"It was amazing. I have no words," Llull said after the game. "I feel the love of the people and I think they love the way I play, always giving 100%, so I am really happy. Two or three months ago, everybody was \[already\] talking about that record and I am really happy to get it, really proud. But the important thing is the team."

### Focused on the job at hand

Once the game started, Llull made sure he did everything in his power to help Real stay 100% in the series.

Llull buried his 625th three-pointer in the competition right at the end of the first quarter, beating the buzzer to give Real a 23-21 edge. Llull went on to hit two more shots from downtown to help Real make it a double-digit game for the first time, 37-27.

"We were focused from the beginning, trying to control Baskonia's strong points, and then on offense playing as a team, moving the ball well," Llull added, before stressing that health has been one of Real's biggest advantages so far in the postseason.

"I believe the team is feeling well. We are healthy, which is important at this time of the season. The team knows that the important moment of the season has arrived and this is when we have to give 100%, when we have to play well and win games."

In just over 17 minutes, Real Madrid guard Sergio Llull had 13 points on 2 of 3 two-pointers and 3 of 5 three-pointers, adding 2 rebounds and 3 assists for a PIR of 14.

Llull steps up in Game 2

In just over 17 minutes, Llull had 13 points on 2-of-3 two-pointers and 3-of-5 three-pointers, adding 2 rebounds and 3 assists for a PIR of 14.

"I am feeling well, physically well, which is important for me to give the team all I can offer."

Llull faces another challenge next week: becoming the second-ever player to reach 10 Final Fours since the format was chosen in 1988. Victor Khryapa holds the record with 12 Final Four appearances. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens playmaker Kostas Sloukas can also reach his 10th Final Four in this postseason.

Above all, Llull knows that the job is far from finished. Real needs three more victories to successfully defend its EuroLeague title for the first time since 1968.

"I want the big trophy," Llull stated. "So I just can't play without thinking about nothing else."

Sergio Llull puts his hands to his head during Real Madrid's Game 2 win against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

The 36-year-old enjoyed a special night, which involved a pre-game ceremony and another playoff win

Sergio Llull's double celebration 

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv looked capable of staging another upset at Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens after an impressive 87-91 win in Game 1 of their Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series, but the visitors ultimately came undone by their own torrid pace which saw them surge ahead in the first quarter of Game 2.

Inconsistency and Baldwin’s absence cost Maccabi in Game 2 

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv looked capable of staging another upset at Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens after an impressive 87-91 win in Game 1 of their Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series, but the visitors ultimately came undone by their own torrid pace which saw them surge ahead in the first quarter of Game 2.

With Panathinaikos still reeling from that loss, Maccabi fired on all cylinders in the opening 10 minutes and raced into a 20-28 lead as Jake Cohen poured 10 points in the first quarter.

However, the absence of top performer Wade Baldwin, who limped off with a hamstring injury late in Game 1, turned out to be a devastating blow and Panathinaikos duly took advantage to turn Game 2 on its head, winning 95-79 in front of a fervent home crowd.

Antonius Cleveland's highlights from Game 2

Baldwin, who racked up 15 points and 7 assists in Game 1, could only watch helplessly as Panathinaikos turned a 35-38 second-quarter deficit into a 56-39 lead early in the third quarter and then wrapped up the win on the back of a superb performance from Kostas Sloukas.

Cohen and Antonius Cleveland were among the most productive Maccabi players in Game 2 but the latter acknowledged that without Baldwin, who averages 17.9 and 4.9 assists per game, beating a team as resourceful as Panathinaikos twice in as many days on the road was always going to be a tall order.

“We fell behind in what we’ve been doing all year and they hit some big shots,” Cleveland said in the locker room after the game. “Things didn’t go our way, but it’s a series.

“We need our best player back, it’s different without him. There was one possession where they got 8 points in a row and that gave them an impetus. A minute or two of bad basketball shifted the game in their favor but we’ll regroup, talk about it and we’ll be ready for Game 3.

“We wanted to go 2-0 up but at the end of the day we’ve got a chance to win the series on home court and that’s what it’s all about.”

Cohen hit the ground running as he netted 10 points in the first quarter for his first double-figure tally of the season and the most he’s scored in a EuroLeague game since January 2020. The forward acknowledged that Maccabi paid the price for lapses in concentration against a team always capable of taking a mile even if given only an inch.

“It was a tough night,” said Cohen. “We weren’t consistent for 40 minutes but I think we can take a lot of positives, we need to make some adjustments and come back strongly.”

Head coach Oded Kattash echoed Cohen’s thoughts. “To win here in such an atmosphere and under such pressure, you have to be focused for 40 minutes. We did a lot of good things tonight but we were not focused for about 5 minutes in each half.

“We started the game well and played the right way the opening 15 minutes. Some of the players are exhausted as they spent a lot of minutes on the court but despite not winning, we showed character just like we did in Game 1. However, they got us on the offensive rebounds and made some big shots.

“Hopefully we are going to get Wade back into the series, we’ll see. Either way, we’re going to keep on fighting as that’s what we do. I wish we could do it in Tel Aviv in front of our crowd, but unfortunately, that’s not the situation.”

The Israeli side fell victim to its own pace as key player was out injured

Real Madrid set a new club postseason record by scoring 101 points in its Game 2 victory against Baskonia in the 2023-24 EuroLeague Playoffs.

Real Madrid set club record in Game 2 win over Baskonia

Real Madrid grabbed its second victory in as many playoff games by [downing Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 101-90 in Game 2](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-knocks-off-baskonia-in-game-2-101-90/) of their best-of-five series. By doing so, Chus Mateo's squad scored over 100 points in a playoff game for the first time ever. 

Real finished the game with 101 points, setting a new club playoff – and postseason – record. [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/) made it happen with a three-pointer in the penultimate minute of the contest. Real's previous highest playoff score was the 98 points it scored in Game 5 against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade last season. What's more, Real's previous highest mark in the postseason was the 100 points it netted in a 2014 semifinal win over FC Barcelona. 

As always, rebounding was the main key for *Los Blancos* as it allowed them to run the floor. Real outrebounded Baskonia 36-27, pulling down as many as 24 defensive boards and allowing Baskonia to get just 9 offensive rebounds. As such, Real grabbed 72.7% of all rebounds under its rim. Baskonia only grabbed 60% of all rebounds under its own basket, 18 out of 30.

Real Madrid finished the game with 101 points, setting a new playoff club record.

Real scores 101 in Game 2 against Baskonia

Protecting the paint was also critical in Game 2. Real finished the first half with 6 blocks, tying the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague's all-time playoff record in a first half. Baskonia was limited to just 15-of-29 two-pointers (51.7% 2FG) while Real did much better, finding a lot of fast-break opportunities and scoring in transition. *Los Blancos* downed 25-of-39 shots inside the arc (64.1% 2FG). Real centers [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) and [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) combined for 20 points on 10-of-14 two-pointers (71.4% 2FG), 16 rebounds, 6 blocks and a PIR of 39.

Finally, Real took much better care of the basketball, which also made the difference in this game. Real had as many as 24 assists, one shy off tying its playoff record, and limited its turnovers to just 10. On the other hand, Baskonia had fewer assists (19) and more turnovers (13). All that allowed Real to get within one victory to return to the Final Four for the third consecutive season.

Real Madrid's Mario Hezonja shoots a three-pointer against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Game 2 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Los Blancos reached the century-point mark to take a 2-0 lead in the series

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens overcame a slow start to brush aside Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 95-79 in Game 2 of their Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series, to even the tie thanks to a rock-solid performance in front of a passionate home crowd. 

Panathinaikos took control inside against Maccabi 

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens overcame a slow start to brush aside Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 95-79 in Game 2 of their Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series, to even the tie thanks to a rock-solid performance in front of a passionate home crowd.

Apart from Kostas Sloukas producing his best performance in the competition and delivering a career-high 29 points, the home team profited from a high-octane tempo that saw the Greens overpower the visitors in nearly all segments of the game.

Panathinaikos won the battle in the paint as it collected 33 rebounds to Maccabi’s 27, including 12 on the offensive end. That resulted in a barrage of second-chance points, as the Greens outscored Maccabi 20-2 in that department.

Moreover, star center Mathias Lessort got the better of his counterpart Josh Nebo. Lessort posted 11 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists while putting Nebo into foul trouble. The Maccabi big man fouled out in less than 20 minutes with just 6 points and 3 boards.

Panathinaikos was more efficient shooting from two-point range as the Greens made 24 of 35 shots (68.6%) from inside the arc. Maccabi converted 23 of 40 (57.5%).

How his team played left Coach Ergin Ataman confident that Panathinaikos would go on to win the series and reach the Final Four after bouncing back from the Game 1 loss and a poor first quarter in Game 2, with Maccabi carving out a 20-28 lead before the Greens roared back.

“We didn’t play good defense in the first quarter but after that we started to play good basketball,” the Turkish tactician commented. “Sloukas controlled the game very well, he found points and assists while Papapetrou also made some great shots.

“We got aggressive defensively and now we are headed for two tough games in Belgrade. Maccabi is a good offensive team, but we did our job tonight and I am confident that we are the better team.”

The Greens got the better of Maccabi through three quarters in a fast-paced encounter 

Panathinaikos controlled the paint against Maccabi 

Real Madrid is one victory away from returning to the EuroLeague Final Four after downing Baskonia 101-90 at WiZink Center in Game 2 on Thursday. 

Real Madrid knocks off Baskonia in Game 2, 101-90

Real Madrid is one victory away from returning to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four after downing Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 101-90 at WiZink Center in Game 2 on Thursday. Real has a 2-0 lead in the series, which now heads to Vitoria-Gasteiz for Game 3 next Wednesday.

Facu Campazzo paced the winners with 24 points and 7 assists. Guerchon Yabusele added 16 points, Sergio Llull had 13 while Gabriel Deck, Walter Tavares and Vincent Poirier each got 10 for Real. Vanja Marinkovic led Baskonia with 20 points. Codi Miller-McInture added 13 while Matt Costello had 10 for the guests.

### A back and forth battle

Costello got Baskonia going with a three-pointer and Nikos Rogkavopoulos also struck from downtown for a 0-6 lead. Mario Hezonja scored around the basket, igniting a 6-0 run that Tavares capped with a dunk. Campazzo bettered Marinkovic's layup with a triple that gave Real its first lead, 9-8. Miller-McIntyre answered from beyond the arc, but Tavares and Hezonja fueled a 9-0 run that gave the hosts an 18-11 margin. Tadas Sedekerskis and Sander Raieste each hit a triple in a 0-8 run that Marinkovic capped with a layup. Hezonja and Howard traded baskets, then Llull's buzzer-beating triple restored a 23-21 Real lead after 10 minutes.

### Campazzo keep Real ahead

Poirier took over with an alley-oop dunk early in the second quarter and Llull added a three-pointer to boost Real's advantage to 28-21. Llull erased Howard's triple with a shot of his own from downtown. Howard insisted from beyond the arc, then Sergio Rodriguez found Deck for consecutive layups, making Baskonia call a timeout at 35-27. Sedekerskis matched Poirier's dunk with a put-back layup, Marinkovic buried a three-pointer and Chris Chiozza got Baskonia within 39-37. Poirier took over with another alley-oop dunk, which Campazzo followed with a driving layup. Marinkovic and a red-hot Campazzo traded triples to fix the halftime score at 46-40.

### Yabusele takes over

Rogkavopoulos and Yabusele each buried a three-pointer soon after the break, before Marinkovic bettered Tavares's put-back dunk with a three-point play that kept Baskonia within 51-47. Yabusele dunked and Campazzo's three-pointer gave Real fresh air at 56-47. Sedekerskis stepped up for Baskonia and Howard's third triple kept his team within 58-54. Campazzo and Yabusele kept pacing Real, restoring a 65-56 lead. Campazzo buried a corner three-pointer off a timeout and Yabusele dunked in traffic to make Baskonia call a timeout at 70-57. Chiozza struck from beyond the arc, Tavares dunked twice and Maik Kotsar's three-point play kept the guests within 74-63 after 30 minutes.

### Real seals it early

Deck buried a triple right at the start of the fourth quarter and Llull added a six-meter jumper to break the game open, 79-63. Deck added a backdoor layup and Rodriguez struck from downtown to cap an 11-0 run, good for an 85-63 Real lead. Costello tried to change things with a three-pointer, then Llull and Rodriguez made it a 23-point game, 89-66. Nothing changed in the final 6 minutes as Real kept a significant lead until the final buzzer to seal a decisive victory. Meanwhile, Baskonia will try to make adjustments in the coming days before it faces another do-or-die showdown in front of its fans.

Real Madrid's Guerschon Yabusele roars with joy during his team's Game 2 win against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Los Blancos set a new club postseason record in scoring by netting 101 points

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens romped to a 95-79 victory over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Game 2 of their best-of-five Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoff series, leveling things at 1-1 as Kostas Sloukas poured in a career-high 29 points for the home side.

Panathinaikos sinks Maccabi, 95-79, to even the series 

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens romped to a 95-79 victory over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Game 2 of their best-of-five Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoff series, leveling things at 1-1 as Kostas Sloukas poured in a career-high 29 points for the home side.

Ioannis Papapetrou added 15 points for the Greens and Dinos Mitoglou amassed 14 points to go with 6 rebounds. Mathias Lessort racked up 11 points and 8 boards while Kendrick Nunn chipped in with 10 points to underline a flowing team effort by Panathinaikos, which rallied from a 20-28 first quarter deficit.

At the other end, Lorenzo Brown paced Maccabi with 18 points, while Jake Cohen and Antonius Cleveland netted 12 each. Tamir Blatt added 11 points for the visitors, who faded after a bright start. Maccabi sorely missed guard Wade Baldwin, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury which he sustained in a blistering Game 1 performance.

Maccabi made the brighter start in a fast-paced encounter and came out on top in a rollercoaster first quarter, silencing a fervent home crowd as Cohen fired on all cylinders. The forward scored 10 points in the opening 10 minutes with Maccabi lethal from long range, but Panathinaikos turned the match on its head in the second quarter when Sloukas started to run the show for the home team.

Although the Greens were missing their influential big man Juancho Hernangomez, they dominated the boards at both ends and thrived from offensive rebounds as Maccabi’s game plan got ripped to shreds. Having trailed 35-38 midway through the second period, Panathinaikos engineered a 21-1 streak either side of halftime to take a 56-39 lead early in the third and never looked back.

Maccabi did storm back with a 4-17 run of its own, though, slashing the home side’s lead to 71-68 early in the fourth, but the Israeli champion was unable to force a final twist as Panathinaikos soon weathered the storm. Propelled by Lessort’s physicality and even more so by effervescent shooting from Sloukas, the Greens responded with an 11-2 run that put the game beyond Maccabi’s reach.

In the end, it was an emphatic win for Panathinaikos and its center Kostas Antetokounmpo put the icing on the cake with a monster block on Cleveland right on the final buzzer, sparking rapturous celebrations from a joyous home crowd.

The Greens benefited from a superb second quarter to win Game 2 and draw level in a fascinating tie 