Anadolu Efes vs Panathinaikos

On Friday, Anadolu Efes will host Panathinaikos in the fourth game of their EuroLeague quarter-final playoff series. Panathinaikos leads the series 2-1 and will reach the Final Four with a victory. Continue reading to find out our prediction for this match.

Anadolu Efes unexpectedly won Game Two in Greece and held the lead when the series moved to Turkey for Games Three and Four. Luca Bancgi's team, however, was unable to seize the series lead and was defeated 81-77 in Game 3.

To escape elimination, they must now win their next match. The two-time European champions have battled with turnovers, losing possession 41 times in the playoffs.

Only one other team has had more turnovers. Shane Larkin is averaging 18 points in the postseason, including 17 in Game Three.

Panathinaikos regained control of the series and will be eager to finish off their opponents in Game Four. Ergin Ataman's team, looking to retain their European title, trounced Efes on the glass in Game Three.

In Game 3 of the playoff quarterfinals, Anadolu Efes couldn’t build on their Athens road win, as Panathinaikos secured a gritty 81-77 victory. Efes struggled through the first three quarters, trailing by 13 before narrowing the gap to nine by the third’s end. They roared back in the fourth with fierce defense and sharp offense, even tying the score briefly. Yet, critical offensive rebounds allowed by Efes in the final minutes handed Panathinaikos the game’s decisive points.

Efes outperformed Panathinaikos from three-point range (43.5% to 29.2%) but was outrebounded by nine, giving up 15 offensive boards. Sloppy turnovers, poor shot choices, and unnecessary fouls in the bonus plagued their performance. PJ Dozier, hampered by a first-half injury, sat out much of the second and third quarters but sparked Efes’ resurgence upon returning. Dan Oturu shone brightly, dominating both ends of the court. Shane Larkin played well but was stifled by Juancho Hernangómez’s block in the final minute, a turning point. Efes couldn’t stop Kendrick Nunn late or curb Panathinaikos’ rebounding, and their transition defense needs work.

Panathinaikos displayed their championship grit. After splitting the first two games, they arrived in Istanbul with clear intent. Kendrick Nunn and Kostas Sloukas led the charge, with Sloukas carrying the load in the first half for a six-point halftime lead. The third quarter saw Panathinaikos in command, with Nunn finding his groove and their defense forcing turnovers. Efes lacked consistent scoring options. However, Panathinaikos’ focus wavered, a recurring issue in this series, allowing Efes to claw back with tenacious defense. In the clutch, Nunn proved unstoppable, and Panathinaikos’ bigs capitalized on misses. Konstantinos Mitoglou stood out, delivering a season-best 18 points, including 4-of-5 from three. His triple with six seconds left sealed the win, giving Panathinaikos a five-point edge.