Clyburn is not enough. Yurtseven and Nunn lead the Greeks to victory
Too much bread for Virtus. Despite a strong performance and a super start from Clyburn, the Vu-Blacks fell in Oaka against reigning champion Panathinaikos. Therefore, 2025 for Ivanovic’s team begins with a defeat in the Euroleague, forced to surrender to the too talented Greek roster. After a first half dominated by Yurtseven, it is Nunn who takes center stage in the final, with 11 points of the 27 total in the fourth quarter alone, with the Greeks shooting 19/32 from 3. It ends 111-90, and for Virtus comes the fourteenth knockout of the season after two consecutive victories.
YURTSEVEN VS CLYBURN
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Although Virtus did not tremble at the start, the first actions of the match outlined what would be the script of the first half, namely the dominance of Omer Yurtseven. The Turkish center is in fact very good at breaking free in the area and converting assists from his teammates. Ivanovic’s team, however, responds blow for blow thanks to Will Clyburn’s crazy start: the former CSKA and Efes player is on fire from behind the arc, with 5 baskets on the first 5 attempts, while Diouf manages to assert himself under the basket and closes the first half already in double figures. The balance is maintained thanks to the incredible 3-point percentages of both teams: 7/12 for Pana, 7/14 for Virtus, who however suffer from the physicality of the Greeks in rebounding (16-8). And if Clyburn reaches 19, Yurtseven closes the first half as the absolute protagonist with 18 points, a crazy dunk and even a block on a triple by Belinelli: his impact is decisive in the partial with which Pana takes off at the end of the first half, returning to the locker room at 54-42.
pana dominion
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In the second half the protagonists change but not the script. Pana continues its excellent shooting evening and reaches +16 (maximum advantage) thanks to Hernangomez, who had already been perfect from behind the arc at the start of the match. The Spaniard first steals and dunks in the open field, then makes a 3 and explodes the home crowd. Virtus remains desperately clinging to the match with the excellent impact of Grazulis (12 points), while Pajola fights in defense and gives assists to his teammates. The Vu-blacks manage to mend up to -6, but in the final they surrender to the excessive power of Kendrick Nunn: after a constant and “silent” offensive game, the former Heat and Lakers player definitively lights up and digs the decisive furrow with three triples consecutive, to which is added that of Osman. In the last two minutes, Ataman’s team spreads, even reaching +20, with Osman and Brown closing the festival of triples and giving Pana their fourth consecutive victory.
Panathinaikos: Nunn 27, Yurtseven 27, Hernangomez 16
Virtus Bologna: Clyburn 25, Diouf 15, Grazulis 12
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