Basketball
Alba – Panathinaikos 94-65: He has presence in Berlin
At the Mercedes-Benz Arena, Panathinaikos disappointed more than any other game this year, being defeated by Alba Berlin (94-65).
Panathinaikos couldn’t really win the game against Alba Berlin, playing in a supporting role from the first third, which led to one of the biggest defeats in its history (94:65). Poor communication and defensive behavior combined with disappointing 2-point (4/16) and shooting (7/13) rates in the first half essentially doomed the Greens, whose lead had dropped to -31 midway through the fourth period .
From there, only the magnitude of the final difference changed, as Alba Berlin didn’t give Panathinaikos the right to believe they could return from Hell. This was the second loss in three games for Panathinaikos EuroLeague 2022/23, while Alba continued his impressive run, reaching 3/3 in the regular season. All of this in a night where Israel Gondaleth was deprived of the services of four of its main actors (Maudo Lo, Jalin Smith, Marcus Eriksson, Johannes Tiemann).
The MVP
Luke Sikma recovered from a bad night a week ago and did what he wanted against the great Panathinaikos. In the 26’16” he stayed on the court, he pulled off an impressive double-double with 16 points (using 4/7 doubles, 2/3 trebles and 2/2 shots) and 15 rebounds. He didn’t limit himself to that, of course, as he padded his stats even more with 6 assists and 2 errors.
The weak link
On a night like this, when everything has gone disastrously wrong, it’s not easy to pick just one. Let’s just say that Mateus Ponitka was the worst Panathinaikos villain in the game as he finished the night with 5 points in 1/8 shooting and 3/4 shooting. Along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 4 turnovers.
The stat that stood out
Panathinaikos’ 30.8% on twos and 59.1% on shots explains a lot about the Greek team’s disappointing picture at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
The race
Panathinaikos started the game well, mostly because it worked defensively. At 4′, however, everything changed. For the worst. Dejan Radonić’s team failed to score with the boys until the end of the third, resulting in -8 (17-9). Finally, with 2/13 from home and 1 assist for 4 penalties, Panathinaikos couldn’t expect anything special at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Early in the second period, the B unit (Andrew Andrews, Lefteris Mantzoukas, Lefteris Bohorides) did a great job with Andrew Andrews particularly leading the charge. Thanks to his own baskets, Panathinaikos managed to close the gap to -4 (25:21 at 15′). But again, two minutes of pace led to +11 (32-21 in 17′), with Tamir Blatt and Luke Sikma standing out.
The first part ended with +10 (43-33) for the hosts, perfectly explained by Panathinaikos’ 4/16 two points and 7 assists for 6 errors.
In the third period things went downhill (even more) at the expense of Panathinaikos. So strong that Alba’s difference jumped to +27 (60:33) in the 25th minute, while Dejan Radonić’s team went five minutes without a point. Bundled changes and a different tactical approach brought the small recovery. But here too, the -19 (64:45) in the 30th minute couldn’t bring a smile to the side of the Greeks, while the two-point quota (8/29 – 27.6%) remained disappointing.
From then on, the game became procedural as the Israel Gondaleth players didn’t give the slightest right to challenge their superiority. The gap remained far enough away from the point where Panathinaikos felt they could do something worthwhile, the two points continued to be an issue and this led to their second loss in three EuroLeague games of 2022/23.
THE REFEREES: Belosevic – Hordov – Trepenier.
THE DECADES: 17-9, 43-33, 64-45, 94-65.
ALBA BERLIN (Gondaleth): Prosinda 6 (1), Makowski 2, Dilow 5 (1), Wetzel 11 (1), Maticek 3 (1), Snyder 2 (0/4 2pts, 2/2 shots), Olidi 7 ( 1) , Kumanji 10 (5/6 2-pointers, 6 rebounds), Sikma 16 (2 3-pointers, 15 rebounds, 6 assists), Lammers 7 (1), Hand 15 (4/7 3-pointers, 3/ 3 shots, 7 assists), Zusman 10 (2).
PANATHINAICOS (Radonits): P. Kalaitzakis, Lee 11 (1 three-pointer, 4 rebounds), Papagiannis (0/4 two-pointers, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks), Bohorides 5 (1 three-pointer, 4 assists), Williams 6 (1/5 three-pointers) , Andrews 13 (2), G. Kalaitzakis, Ponitka 5 (1/8 shots, 3/4 shots, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 errors), Grigonis 14 (1/5 two-pointers, 3/6 trebles, 3 /3 shots), Mandzoukas 3 (1), Gudaitis 8.
The team statistics of Alba Berlin: 20/43 2-pointers, 13/27 3-pointers, 15/17 shots, 43 rebounds (34 defense + 9 offense), 24 assists, 8 steals, 7 turnovers, 3 blocks.
Panathinaikos team statistics: 12/39 2-pointers, 9/22 3-pointers, 14/24 shots, 38 rebounds (28 defensive + 10 offensive), 14 assists, 3 steals, 15 turnovers, 8 blocks.
The next games of the two teams: Panathinaikos returns to OAKA to host Monaco (21/10, 21:00), while Alba Berlin travels to Istanbul to take on Anadolu Efes (21/10, 20:30).
Source: sport 24
I am a sports writer and journalist who has written for various online publications including Sportish. I’m originally from the UK but currently live in Toronto, Canada. I’m also an author on Sportish and have written several articles on a variety of sports-related topics.
Star player of Los Angeles Lakers Luka Doncic Against the background of the embarrassing defeat of Houston Rockets (96:119), he explained what the team had to change to improve the results:
“I don’t know exactly what needs to change, but something definitely needs to change. We need to figure it out, that’s what we need to do. Everyone should discuss it.”
I know JJ Redick said it would be disturbing. And that’s the way it should be.
As I said, we need to discuss this. It may be uncomfortable, but everyone needs to try harder, starting with me.
We just have to challenge each other. Everyone should challenge themselves and their teammates. “There’s no way to play the way we play, so we’ve got to be better than that.”
Source: Sport UA
Ralph Bean is a writer for Sportish. Ralph has written about sports news for the last two years, and is currently an author on the site. He enjoys writing about sports, and hopes to cover more stories in the future.
On the night of December 25-26, as part of the Christmas games of the NBA regular season, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in overtime, 142:128.
Nuggets’ point guard Jamal Murray played with 35 points (2/3 free throws, 3/14 two-pointers, 9/18 three-pointers) and 10 assists in this game.
The Canadian player broke the record for the most accurate three-pointers in a match by making 9 three-pointers in the Minnesota hoop. Thus, he surpassed the record of 8 three-pointers each of Stephen Curry (2024), Grayson Allen (2023), Luka Doncic (2023) and Patty Mills (2021).
Murray also became the third player in NBA Christmas history to score 35+ points, 10+ assists and 5+ 3-pointers, joining Luka Doncic and Tracy McGrady.
JAMAL MURRAY brought the heat to CHRISTMAS DAY!
🔥35 POINTS
🔥10 AST
🔥 9 15:00 (most in Christmas Day matches)He joins Luka Dončić and Tracy McGrady only in the 35-PT, 10-AST, 5-3PM matches. #NBAXmas history. pic.twitter.com/LithevHmF5
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2025
Source: Sport UA
Ralph Bean is a writer for Sportish. Ralph has written about sports news for the last two years, and is currently an author on the site. He enjoys writing about sports, and hopes to cover more stories in the future.
On the evening of December 25 and the night of December 26, five Christmas games were traditionally held as part of the NBA regular season.
The most important match of the match day was played in Oklahoma, where the Thunder hosted San Antonio.
The home team started the game better and were ahead for most of the first quarter, but they missed a move 0:11 into the quarter, allowing Spurs to take the lead 41:36. Oklahoma was unable to take the lead after that, but San Antonio maintained its lead by keeping the game under control and eventually won 117-102.
The Spurs have won all three games against the Thunder this season, while Oklahoma has lost just two of the other 28 games.
The most productive player of the match was Fox, who brought 29 points to San Antonio, while Vembanyama also scored a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
The Lakers played Houston at home and suffered a crushing defeat.
The fate of the match was decided in the first quarter, when the Rockets won by 12 points (25:37). Afterwards, they increased their advantage by completely controlling the course of the match and eventually won with a score of 119:96.
For Houston, Thompson scored 26 points and Shengyun had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Denver and Minnesota closed out game day.
The first half of the match ended in a draw. Neither team managed to take a lead of more than 9 points, and Denver entered the big break with a 2-point lead at 57:55. In the third quarter, the Nuggets made an attack of 6:0 at the beginning and 10:2 in the middle, reaching a 16-point lead, and at the end of the quarter they were ahead +15 – 90:78. The Timberwolves did not give up and made a 16:2 move midway through the fourth quarter, reaching a lead of 107:108. This gave fans a tense ending; Edwards hit a three-pointer 2 seconds before the siren, sending the game into overtime at 115:115. And there Jokic played a decisive role and scored 18 points in 5 minutes, allowing the Nuggets to win 142:138.
Jokic scored 56 points in the NBA on Christmas Day, falling just four shy of Bernard King’s record. Nikola also recorded a triple-double with 16 rebounds and 15 assists. Murray had a double-double with 35 points and 10 assists.
NBA. Regular season. Christmas Day, 25-26 December
New York – Cleveland – 126:124 (23:38, 37:20, 24:38, 42:28)
New York: Brunson (34), Hart (15), Bridges (12), Towns (11 + 14 rebounds), Anunoby (8) – start; Clarkson (25), Kolek (16 + 9 assists), Diawara (5), Hookporty (0), Robinson (0 + 12 rebounds).
cleveland: Mitchell (34 + 7 rebounds + 6 assists), Garland (20 + 10 assists), Merrill (11), Allen (7 + 9 rebounds), Wade (6) – start; Tyson (16), E. Mobley (14 + 9 rebounds), Hunter (13), Bryant (3), Ball (0).
Oklahoma – San Antonio – 102:117 (36:41, 24:28, 19:26, 23:22)
Oklahoma: Gilgeous-Alexander (22), Hartenstein (13 + 12 rebounds), Jaylen Williams (12 + 6 assists), Holmgren (10 + 12 rebounds), Dort (8) – start; Caruso (12), K. Williams (8), Wiggins (5), Joe (5), Wallace (5), Carlson (2), Barnhizer (0), Youngblood (0).
San Antonio: Fox (29), Castle (19 + 7 assists), Barnes (15), Cornet (6), Vassell (5) – start; Vembanyama (19 + 11 rebounds), Harper (12), K. Johnson (9 + 7 rebounds), McLaughlin (3), Sohan (0), Shempeni (0), Brian (0), Olynyk (0), Waters (0).
Golden State – Dallas – 126:116 (40:28, 31:30, 29:31, 26:27)
Golden State: Curry (23), Butler (14 + 9 rebounds + 9 assists), Moody (12), Dr. Green (7), Post (6) – start; Melton (16), Horford (14), Podziemski (13 + 8 rebounds), Jackson-Davis (10), Payton II (6), Richard (5).
dallas: Flagg (27), Marshall (14), Washington (14 + 10 rebounds), Nembhard (4), Davis (3) – starter; Williams (26), Christie (13), Thompson (7), Gafford (6), Caleb Martin (2).
Lakers-Houston-96:119 (25:37, 28:26, 21:29, 22:27)
Lakers: Doncic (25 + 7 assists + 6 turnovers), James (18), Reeves (12), Ayton (10), Hachimura (0) – start; Vanderbilt (11), Smart (6), Larevia (5), James Jr. (3), Thiero (2), Knecht (2), Kleber (2).
Houston: Thompson (26 + 7 rebounds), Durant (25 + 9 assists), Smith (16 + 7 rebounds), Shengyun (14 + 12 rebounds + 6 turnovers), Eason (13) – start; Sheppard (13), Capela (6), Adams (4 + 9 rebounds), Tate (2), A. Holiday (0), Davison (0), Green (0), Okogie (0), Finney-Smith (0).
Denver – Minnesota – 142:138 (STARTING 32:29, 25:26, 35:23, 23:37, 27:23)
Denver: Jokic (56 + 16 rebounds + 15 assists + 5 turnovers), J. Murray (35 + 10 assists), Hardaway (19), Jones (12 + 9 rebounds), Watson (9) – start; B. Brown (7), Nnaji (2), Valanciunas (2), Strother (0).
Minnesota: Edwards (44 + 6 turnovers), Randle (32 + 7 rebounds + 6 assists), McDaniels (21), Gobert (9 + 12 rebounds + 6 blocks), DiVincenzo (6 + 7 rebounds + 8 assists) – start; Reed (13), Hyland (11), Clark (2), Juzeng (0), Conley (0), Shannon (0).
tournament tables
Western Conference
Eastern Conference
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has written for various websites and magazines. I currently work as an author at Sportish, a news website that covers sports news. My main focus is writing about soccer, rugby and other sports in the world.
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