Batiste leads PAO to victory at Rethymno
Panathinaikos survived a scare at in-form AGO Rethymnou on December 28 to win 77-72 and rise to the top spot in the league along with Olympiakos, which sat this 10th round of games out.
AGOR was ahead for most of the first half, but the Greens battled back to assert their authority and open a small lead which they went on to defend until the end for their eighth win in nine games.
Mike Batiste scored 22 points and collected eight rebounds for Panathinaikos.
Kolossos Rhodes is also on an 8-1 record after thrashing bottom side Maroussi 85-60 away, with the Athens club being the favorite for relegation having failed to chalk up any wins in nine games.
PAOK was the winner at the Thessaloniki derby with Aris, registering a 92-87 win in a very entertaining encounter at Pylaia.
Just like PAOK, Kavala ended a series of defeats, beating visiting Ikaros Kallitheas 81-67.
Ilisiakos moved away from the danger zone with a 76-73 win over KAO Dramas at home, while fourth-placed Panionios enjoyed its seventh win in nine matches, downing Peristeri 56-49 away.
