With victory in four of their previous five games, Maccabi Tel Aviv has been playing well at home lately. The team is concentrating on an attacking style of basketball and has a drastically redesigned squad before the league begins, averaging 85.2 points (8th place). But in sharp contrast to their dynamic offensive, their defense has been faltering, giving up 89.1 points (17th place).
The Israelis haven't been able to compete for even a play-in berth because of their own poor defense. However, on a four-game winning streak, they are perhaps in their finest form since the tournament started. Their most recent victory was a 77-67 success against close table opponent Virtus Bologna. One fascinating fact is that Maccabi is among the most awarded teams.
A fun fact is that Maccabi is among the most decorated teams in EuroLeague history, which gives them more self-assurance when playing at home. After missing a national championship game, Levi Randolph is expected to make a quick recovery in time for the contest against Panathinaikos.
Having won 14 of their past 15 games in all competitions, Panathinaikos is in outstanding form.The Greek team is rightfully regarded as one of the league's top competitors due to their impressive lineup and deep bench. PAO is averaging 87 points per game, which is second in the league, thanks to the offensive prowess of Hernangomez, Nunn (a serious contender for MVP this season), and Osman.
Overall, the club plays well-rounded basketball and excels in some defensive categories (31.9, second place). Panathinaikos easily trounced Alba, the bottom-place team in the league, at home in the last round (91–81). With 19 and 18 points, respectively, Grant and Nunn were very strong. The fact that Panathinaikos has won both Greece and Europe on several occasions highlights their continuously excellent performance and aspirations on the global scene. But for a variety of reasons, Yurtseven, Papapetrou, Osman, Lessort, and Grigonis are benched.
In their most recent game, Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Virtus Bologna 77-67 at home.
In their last game, Panathinaikos gained win at home. The score versus Alba Berlin was 91-81.
The last time these teams faced off, Panathinaikos prevailed. The win over Maccabi was recorded as 93-87. Maccabi has lost against Panathinaikos three times in a row. They have won five of the last ten head-to-head matches.
