Home court advantage secured in Lyon!
Olympiacos bested Villeurbanne on the road 94-80 and secured home court advantage in view of the Euroleague playoffs!
With Kostas Papanikolaou leading the team effort, the ‘reds’ got to lead 10-2 in only the second minute of the game. The French team however showed immediate reflexes… They moved the ball, found open shots from the perimeter and turned the tables in its favor (24-21). With good defense and Livio Jean-Charles doing a very good job in the paint, Olympiacos regained control and got a +7 lead (35-42 at 18’), however, they slowed down defense wise after that and committed unnessacary fouls that allowed the French to get ahead 43-42 at 19’. Finally, with a mini score run by Jean-Charles and McKissic, our team closed the first half at +4 (43-47).
. The French won the battle under the rims, at first tied the score 54-54 at 26’ and then went ahead 64-63 at 29’. With two back to back threes by Vezenkov and Sloukas, Olympiacos closed the 3rd quarter at +5 (64-69). With pressing defense and offensive pluralism, Bartzokas’ players sent the difference to +10 for the first time in the game (68-78 at 33’). The French passed the ball to Yusufa Fall and closed in 72-78, but Olympiacos had reflexes. Relying on their defense, the ‘reds’ attacked with Vezenkov and Dorsey getting to lead with +11 (74-85 at 37’). Villeurbanne tried to reverse the situation with threes, but was way off target when at the same time Moustapha Fall and Kostas Sloukas were securing the big win.
The quarters: 26-26, 43-67, 64-69, 80-94.
