Greece Basket League: PAOK vs AEK 14/02/2026

The derby between PAOK and AEK carries major significance in the race for third place, where home court gives PAOK a slight edge, but the visitors’ form, reinforcements, and motivation promise a tight contest until the very end.

Betting on the Asian Handicap

The matchup between PAOK and AEK in Thessaloniki will mark the 19th round of the Greek Basketball League. This is a clash between two teams that sit just below the untouchable Olympiacos and Panathinaikos in terms of quality, and the outcome could have a major impact on the final standings at the end of the regular season.

PAOK currently hold fourth place with an 11–4 record and enter this game on the back of two consecutive league wins. On Wednesday, they played a very demanding game against Bilbao in the FIBA Europe Cup, narrowly losing by the smallest of margins. Although they had already secured qualification for the next round before that matchup, they did not hold back against the Spanish side, so it remains to be seen how much energy that clash may have taken out of the team.

On the other hand, AEK sit one spot above PAOK in the standings, with one more win but also one more game played. They too had European commitments during the week, competing in the Basketball Champions League, but without long travel, as they faced Karditsa and secured a convincing 90–62 victory.

This upcoming showdown carries huge stakes, as the winner will gain a significant advantage in the battle for third place, which offers a much more favorable playoff matchup in the first round. PAOK won the first head-to-head meeting this season 78–76, leaving AEK with little room for calculation this time around. Since that game, both teams have strengthened their rosters and clearly demonstrated high ambitions. The arrival of experienced American international and former champion James Nunnally has proven to be an excellent move for the Athens club, and he will be one of the key weapons for Dragan Sakota’s side.

PAOK may hold a slight favorite’s tag due to home court advantage, but I expect AEK to remain competitive until the final buzzer and cover the assigned handicap.