EUROLEAGUE – Pana prevail over CSKA and Prokom upset Caja Laboral

MOSCOW (Euroleague) - Panathinaikos drove another nail in the coffin of CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night but Russia's other team in the Euroleague, BC Khimki, improved their chances of reaching the top 16 by thrashing Partizan Belgrade.

Asseco Prokom also upset Caja Laboral in Spain to leave the defending ACB champions in serious danger of exiting the competition at the end of the Regular Season.

CSKA, who parted with coach Dusko Vujosevic after last week's defeat at Armani Jeans Milano, fell for the sixth time in seven Euroleague games on Wednesday in a 72-68 home loss to Pana.

Injuries have undermined CSKA's efforts this season but against Panathinaikos, the Russian team's nine-of-18 effort at the free-throw line killed their chances in a close game.

CSKA trailed for most of the contest but battled back and took a 62-61 lead on a dunk by Russia international center Dmitry Sokolov in the fourth quarter.

He had 17 points and eight rebounds.

Antonis Fotsis buried two free-throws to put the visitors back on top and added two more for a 65-62 lead.

Stratos Perperoglou then drilled a three-pointer for a six-point Panathinaikos advantage.

After Matjaz Smodis earned a trip to the line and sank two to reduce the arrears to 68-64, Dimitris Diamantidis killed the Russian team off with a three-pointer.

He made four of seven shots from long range and finished with 17 points.

Dimitry Shakulin, who is now coaching CSKA, said Panathinaikos had been worthy of victory.

"Look at the team game of Panathinaikos," he said.

"Even with the highest shooting percentage, they play as a team, they pass the ball, they show patience, they make the opponent help on defense."

Khimki won for the third time in seven games, hammering Partizan, 92-65.

Sergio Scariolo's side got 22 points, six rebounds, three assists and four steals from Keith Langford.

Asseco Prokom clinched their second straight win with an 81-75 upset of Caja Laboral in Vitoria.

Both sides are now 2-5 in Group A behind Partizan (4-3) and Khimki (3-4).

The Poles went on a 12-2 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters for a 64-58 lead and stayed on top the rest of the way.

Ratko Varda scored 16 points for Prokom, who held their former shooting guard David Logan to just four points in 23 minutes.

Montepaschi Siena improved to 6-1 in Group C after a 90-72 home triumph over Lietuvos Rytas (1-6).

Lithuanian Rimantas Kaukenas scored 17 points in the victory.

Fenerbahce Ulker also won big at home against Cibona.

Tarence Kinsey scored 20 points in a 100-70 rout of the Croatian team (0-7).

Montepaschi and Fener are top of Group C with 6-1 records.

Barcelona (4-2) are in action on Thursday night at home to Cholet (3-3).

FIBA