Panathinaikos OPAP Athens started its new era with a hard-fought victory at Khimki Moscow

Panathinaikos OPAP Athens started its new era with a hard-fought 76-78 victory at Khimki Moscow Region to tip off the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Panathinaikos saw myriad off-season changes, including Georgios Vovoras taking over as head coach and a number of new players joining the roster.

But the six-time EuroLeague champs used a balanced effort to get the win with Ioannis Papapetrou pacing six players in double figures on 16 points. Kostas Mitoglou had 12 points and 9 rebounds. Ben Bentil scored 11 more and Eleftherios Bochoridis and Marcus Foster both chipped in 10 each in the victory.

Khimki fought back from a 13-point deficit to take the lead but ended up falling short despite Devin Booker’s 15 points and 7 rebounds. Dairis Bertans added 14 points, Jordan Mickey had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Vyacheslav Zaytsev picked up 11 points and 5 assists in the defeat.