A big win in Kaunas!
Olympiacos got a huge win in Kaunas, besting Zalgiris 84-73 for the postponed game of the 19th day of the Euroleague and is now trains its full focus on the Thursday game (17/03) against Panathinaikos.
Kostas Papanikolaou came in ‘hot’ and thanks to his perimeter shooting the ‘reds’ led 6-2. The hosts put pressure in the defense, took advantage of rushed decisions and the lack of facilitation within our team and running a partial 9-2 turned the game around (11-8 at 5’).
The Lithuanians maintained a steady lead up to 12’ (25-20), however, thanks to Kostas Sloukas’ facilitation and the excellent performance by Hassan Martin on both ends of the floor, Olympiacos succeeded in taking a 34-31 lead at 18’.
Yuri Zdovc’s team ‘struck’ from the 6.75m. arc and once again got to lead, however, Hassan Martin once again stepped up and tied the game 39-39, which was the score that also closed the first half.
In the 3rd quarter, the game evolved into a first class derby with the two teams taking turns in leading, without any one of them being able to get more than a two point berth! Zalgiris was the one to close the 3rd quarter leading 59-58, following a bucket by Ulanovas, but the last quarter was a totally different story…
With good defense, good ball movement and offensive plurality, Olympiacos set the tempo and despite the perimeter percentages of the Lithuanians, managed to ‘build’ a +10 difference (69-79) at 37’. Zalgiris did not give up the fight, closed in to 73-79 at 39’, but a three by Kostas Sloukas permanently put an end to any hopes they were maintaining at a win. To top it all, Sasha Vezenkov tipped the ball in, writing the final 73-84!
The quarters: 20-15, 39-39, 59-58, 73-84.
