Highlights: Panathinaikos Athens-Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv

Panathinaikos Athens started the Top 16 in style by holding on for an 83-76 victory over reigning Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv on Tuesday at Olympic Sports Center Athens. Esteban Batista paced the Panathinaikos attack with 16 points, Slaughter scored 8 of his 15 in the fourth quarter and James Gist scored 10 of his 15 from the free throw line. DeMarcus Nelson added 12 points and 5 assists and Diamantidis posted 11 and 7. Nate Linhart, who started in place of injured bwin December MVP Devin Smith, and Brian Randle scored 18 points each for Maccabi, while Alex Tyus posted 14 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks and Jeremy Pargo dished 9 assists.