The 29-year-old guard bounced back from a one-game suspension in a memorable double-week
Vintage Kendrick Nunn caught fire to steer Panathinaikos again
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 17 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Reigning EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens returned to winning ways with a pair of big wins in a double-round week, bouncing back from adversity in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague on the back of majestic displays from its leader Kendrick Nunn.
Following a 103-74 blowout of EA7 visiting Emporio Armani Milan on Tuesday, Panathinaikos romped to a 104-69 whitewash of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz with Nunn racking up 65 points over the two matchups.
It was a stark change in fortunes for the guard, who had suffered a slump in form and was handed a one-game suspension for inappropriate conduct in his team’s 91-73 loss at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in Round 14.
Having missed the 93-67 debacle at Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the following round, Nunn came back with a vengeance to pour in a career-high 39 points against Milan before draining 26 against Baskonia, coupled with a career-high 9 assists and 4 steals.
In every aspect, Nunn looked like the player who drove the Greens to their seventh championship in Europe’s premier club competition last season, facilitating the offense in the second half after shooting the lights out in the first.
Unfortunately, his second successive monster performance was overshadowed by a serious injury to the team’s other pillar, Mathias Lessort.
Post-game comments from Lessort’s teammates and head coach Ergin Ataman amounted to wishing the Panathinaikos big man a speedy recovery, as he was rushed to hospital for an MRI scan.
Game Videos
- 00:42
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/19/sx9FfUfl5lRXzvYG33fjC7J0EARBaCUx-1734638739035.jpg]()
Kendrick Nunn: 'We need everyone to keep Mathias in their prayers'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/qf9io_7AvuE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ee192902-44ed-49f6-8b42-fa51ab79f895.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A115%3A70]()
Nice alley-oop from Diop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6b1f426d-1d0b-46e6-b4d7-2689c0f48437.jpg?crop=885%3A497%3Anowe%3A266%3A65]()
Lessort rocks the rim in style! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/17/kL5IuyqLsptazN4hFGEB7bE1W3N4ZUVk-1734470445456.jpg]()
Kendrick Nunn: 'We needed that energy, that spark'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/vDMG2AlXBXM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:38
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/17/9Z6ymh3lK3wjnREsMeHTbdZoDqSU1dBG-1734470302799.jpg]()
Chima Moneke: 'This is our best win of the season'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/K3myS2EETAk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/db9eca36-65ca-47f5-9a18-4c1a95eb9045.jpg?crop=1241%3A698%3Anowe%3A20%3A27]()
Samodurov's big block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3a121f47-4ccb-4d40-9042-3d259ed78a28.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A109%3A59]()
Nunn with another ankle-breaker! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:24
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a3ed0c28-8428-4695-980d-dc06e46bee07.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A51%3A73]()
Nunn breaks Ricci's ankles! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/25b1692c-1ee1-4898-b9a8-4f7678238fb8.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A132%3A41]()
Donta Hall makes creative bucket! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/66cd8665-3775-41cf-b901-f70822433973.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/73f243fe-2937-4e29-aec9-ea005a1d1e40.jpg?crop=908%3A510%3Anowe%3A227%3A38]()
Juancho drives for big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9784b387-7c1e-4d89-b6a0-645268f0b32d.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/70d0a86d-5502-4469-8b4d-ca4b50a1ffee.jpg?crop=1214%3A683%3Anowe%3A71%3A57]()
Hall rises for spectacular swat! Motorola Magic Moment,
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7b61257e-b9ee-44d2-91d4-46d0e1c150a4.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A80]()
Hall says give me that! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/UX9S9s5euN2NMqwbcOrPWUlWoksy6hB7-1733440995839.jpg]()
Devin Booker: 'We had the energy from the fans'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cbc6f4e4-5b4f-4a8e-b1dc-416b50232a07.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d533a928-6d2e-4081-a681-5326bc8d6373.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e15de13e-16b4-4fa2-895c-04103cd4ba9d.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A58%3A56]()
Moneke with the chasedown block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/97c49f43-a844-47d3-bac8-bbbf8a4c313d.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A132%3A114]()
Lessort soars! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:36
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/03/WvXGw8ofWhVeuxuDuOizrJKmOQtAs1wM-1733265775070.jpg]()
Donta Hall: 'We had to bring our hard hats too'
- 01:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/03/6jXDvfSnvn6XFZ9hR5sZHnVFOEGOSfJj-1733265475640.jpg]()
Kendrick Nunn: 'I came in ready'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/7s7XqipWcA4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/07f63778-1d31-4fb5-b2ff-8d8b38b701c5.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-FC Barcelona | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7d706a77-2053-4c18-b9e2-f366c805b2a1.jpg?crop=1225%3A689%3Anowe%3A35%3A103]()
Lessort with a steal and a dunk in transition! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ba3efbd7-73a4-4682-9022-bdcb7785f8e6.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A0%3A100]()
Moneke sends Hall flying for alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:30
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/22629fd2-fe4a-4e26-a86d-b4a553830d6d.jpg?crop=1215%3A683%3Anowe%3A5%3A71]()
Nunn with another midcourt buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/46cf6979-c73f-4f79-bf4c-62999b88fc83.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A119]()
Donta Hall swats it away! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:26
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/22629fd2-fe4a-4e26-a86d-b4a553830d6d.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A0%3A30]()
Nunn beats the buzzer again! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3a121f47-4ccb-4d40-9042-3d259ed78a28.jpg]()
Nunn with a buzzer-beating mid-court triple! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/29/joPs3tx4a9UdUVWfjE5TUixmW1HE1yUa-1732918996777.jpg]()
What a power slam by Lessort! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d6554e25-d46b-48d9-be89-9f220016aadb.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-AS Monaco | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:27
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a0cb1602-ab20-407d-8c9b-2f153a7150b3.jpg?crop=980%3A551%3Anowe%3A213%3A1]()
Lessort has lift-off! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/92049d76-cbaf-455a-9562-a9286baa0b81.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/GZzt0du0g6A/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/358db529-d28b-4d72-aacf-51eb16816819.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A126%3A56]()
Yurtseven with the putback slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0a0edd92-5f4f-456f-8cca-62aff656ce7a.jpg?crop=1350%3A759%3Anowe%3A0%3A43]()
Big men connection! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/LLAQ-3xQlsE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/36a069ae-4edb-4377-bc01-c95ef7cf690e.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A80%3A144]()
Moneke’s block on Milutinov! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ea535f1b-c431-4020-82b6-877fb4f8579f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A38]()
Forrest rejects Fournier! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/00b75cd0-79a5-41f5-8275-cb3ba273994a.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:55
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/15/Avsk60VOydUfRHm9aSxNcaeNbhL4Lra9-1731708674547.jpg]()
Kendrick Nunn: 'I love coming here, I love Bologna'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/HvSCwENkNT4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz–AS Monaco | RS Round 10 highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a72d06d3-59f3-4238-993e-aa432c4af93c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A0%3A40]()
Moneke throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8acdc8ab-1031-491c-bd5a-fc7673ca1aac.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
EuroLeague & Friends episode 3: Greek derby, Real Madrid’s struggles and more
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/AvLmSc__1do/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:49
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/12/ZPlSipE5D2LpnJnXq2gU7MO9Q8o9IG3g-1731450630561.jpg]()
Ergin Ataman: 'We improved 200%'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/31b1b3bf-f957-4bae-9fac-d4480dd4fdfc.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Profoundly shocked by the incident, Ataman was also struck to learn that a fan had suffered an apparent heart attack after seeing Lessort go down awkwardly and leave in anguish.
“It was a very strange night and it’s difficult to talk about the fantastic basketball that we played,” Ataman said at the post-game press conference. “Mathias suffered a very serious injury and I also want to thank Baskonia’s head coach Pablo Laso for agreeing to stop the game for 10 minutes after it happened.
“I was told that somebody [among the fans] suffered a heart attack. We are all hoping for good news about Mathias and we’re waiting for the doctors to say what kind of a fracture it is. That’s basketball and things like that can happen, but for the first time in my life I saw a fan get a heart attack over a player’s injury,” the Turkish tactician added with a grim look on his face.