The game, marked by maximum tension and continuous attrition, slipped away in the final seconds after a foul on Kendrick Nunn with just one second remaining. The 'taronja' team, which never stopped believing despite always trailing, loses home-court advantage and is forced to react in the second game of the series.

The start was conditioned by Nunn's talent, who scored 10 of his team's first 15 points, leading an initial 5-15 run. Valencia Basket, coached by Pedro Martínez, responded with a lineup of Darius Thompson, Brancou Badio, Kameron Taylor, Jaime Pradilla, and Neal Sako, but encountered a wall: poor outside shooting, with a worrying 1/9 start in three-pointers.

The reaction came with the entry of Jean Montero, who provided immediate energy and leadership. The second quarter showed increased defensive intensity from Valencia Basket, finding solutions in the paint with Sako and Braxton Key. Despite their efforts, Panathinaikos maintained control, reaching halftime with a 32-39 lead.

The second half was a tactical battle, with suffocating defenses. Braxton Key emerged with two consecutive dunks and fierce defense on Nunn, bringing Valencia Basket dangerously close on the scoreboard. The quarter ended with a spectacular block by Badio, leaving the score at 49-54.

The final quarter was pure playoff intensity, with crucial decisions. After several ties, Nate Reuvers leveled the score at 63-63 with two minutes left. The outcome was cruel: Montero tied it at 67-67 with 24 seconds remaining, but Nunn drew a foul and sank the decisive free throw, making it 67-68.

The defeat can be attributed to a 6/33 shooting performance from three-point range, an unsustainable burden at this level, and Nunn's decisive impact. The series, though uphill, is open, and Valencia Basket will have another opportunity on Thursday at Roig Arena to tie it.