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A match extremely important for the Top 16

Pinar and Panathinaikos have the same score, 2-4, and are sharing the fourth place of the group C. The winner will take a huge step towards getting placed to the next phase, even though there are still three rounds to go and a lot can change

This match is super important, and will be played in the small arena of Pinar Karsiyaka, where the Turkish champion will host Panathinaikos. Both teams have 2-4 score and are sharing the fourth place, which leads to the Top 16. The winner will take a huge step toward reaching that goal, even though there's a possibility of having to play rounds against Zalgiris (3-3), and maybe even Stelmet (1-5).

Pinar burnt out right at the beginning of the first duel against Panathinaikos in Athens, lost the first period 15-30, and the game was solved there. That made the coach Ufuk Sarica say:

- If we play like this, we won't beat anyone.

Considering the 2-4 ratio, the players obviously didn't listen to what he said, and were beaten in three of the four defeats in away matches. All three were pretty convincing, too, the one against Barcelona even embarrassing (by 28). Pinar were in a similar situation a few days ago when Fenerbahce scored 104, beating them by 22 in the championship, and they couldn't stop Fenerbahce from showering them with the three-pointers (11/20). They've been pretty good in that segment in the Euroleague, though. They stopped their opponents at 30.6%. PAO scored 10/23 three-pointers in the first, and they'll have to pay special attention to that.

- We're going to play one of the most important matches of the group. We have a chance to get to a better place if we win - Sarica said.

It would be ideal if Pinar could win by 12, to even out the difference from Athens, but that's secondary. Their main goal is to play well like they did at home against Barcelona and Stelmet, and get new points.

- We're not thinking about anything but a win. We're investing all our energy into that - Sarica said. 

Justin Carter came back against Fener, and scored 15 points and 6 assists, making himself the best player of his team in that duel.

- Playing home is a huge advantage for us. We're aware that this game could lead us to Top 16, we've worked hard and we want to show that on the court - the young point guard Sipahi said.

Panathinaikos started the new season optimistically, and two wins against their great rival from Piraeus boosted their ambitions even more. However, the coach is now in real danger of not getting his team to the second round of the Euroleague, and that would be a debacle for a team like theirs. Losing to Lokomotiv last weekend was their fourth in six matches played so far.

While Panathinaikos away games were humble, they were much better in the OAKA arena, so Lokomotiv were the first to beat them on their own court. Panathinaikos were under a lot of pressure before that duel, hosting a tricky rival who knew how to use their chance.

Things started going badly for Panathinaikos from the beginning. Lokomotiv lead 14-2, and 21-10 after the first quarter. However, PAO slowly found their game and when they took the lead in the third, it seemed they could turn the result around. Still, they played the final moments weakly, allowing Lokomotiv to get 7-8 points advantage, and the Russians didn't let them get back this time.

- We lacked defensive aggressiveness, and we had some stupid turnovers, especially in the first half-time. Every possession is important in a match like this one. We have to get ready for the next match, it's going to be the key one - Đorđević said.

With the 2-4 ratio, Panathinaikos are sharing the fourth place with Karsiyaka, making this match a very important one. A win would get them a 2-0 advantage in the games against Karsiyaka, and since they're hosting Stelmet in the following rounds, they'd be very close to getting through. On the other hand, losing would complicate things a lot, and Panathinaikos would get themselves in a dangerous situation. They didn't play the Greek championship this weekend because the game against PAOK was postponed because PAOK's players got sick.

Panathinaikos played their last away matches badly, and Đorđević made it clear that he wants to play the away matches better in the rest of the season. His team will have a big test today, but only Bochoridis is out, and the good news is that Pappas is back in the roster.

- We have to be ready to play well and be focused throughout the whole game. I believe the team will play well and get our first away win - Đorđević concluded.

I was having a hard time choosing between total and team under. Total under is a pretty good pick, can be taken for 4-5/10, but the team under is better because it's very convincing statistically. First, the things that aren't working. The first match between the two ended at 158 points, with 85 by Panathinaikos, but that match was done after the first period that PAO won 30-15. After that, the match was tied up, but the Greek team scored 55 points till the end. If not for the crazy first quarter, they'd have about 75 in that match. Now, Pinar at home and Pinar away are very different. They are perfect victims away, but they're killing it at home, with their defense first of all. They left Barcelona with 62, Zalgiris with 68, Stelmet with 66. PAO are much better at home. Besides scoring 85 to Pinar, they also scored 91 against the slow and tough Zalgiris, in the blowout, too. Their away matches - 70 against Kuban, 52 against Barcelona, 68 against Stelmet. This match is extremely important, both teams' scores are 2-4, and a winner would take a huge step toward the Top 16, so I expect to see a war. PAO do play better offensively with Đorđević this season, but the statistics are what they are. Not in the Euroleague matches. I simply don't see this match ending with high numbers, and that means that guests won't go over the margin set either.