Undefeated but hurt...
Olympiacos has a 24-0 record and continues leading the League race, but misfortune once again hit the door of the team. The victory in Kavala (63 – 92) claimed a big price, that being the injury of Raso Nesterovic in the shoulder.
The “reds” under Dusan Ivkovic did exactly what their coach had asked them to do from the beginning of the game. They remained serious and focused, imposing the rhythm. Even after the game was interrupted following a dunk by Bourousis that brought the backboard down, nothing changed.
Nesterovic’ injury just before the end of the first half took a toll on his team mates, but they never lost control and reached an easy victory.
The Referees: Karakatsounis, Goumas,Athanasios Deslis
The quarters: 16-28, 31-47, 44-73, 63-92.
Per quarter: 16-28, 15-19, 13-26, 19-19.
Κavala (Priftis): McIntosh 5, Kostov 7, Papanikolaou 6, Stefanides 5, Pjevalica, Simmons 8 (6 ριμπ.), Georgakis 4, Jorovic 10, Karapostolou, Detijer 3, Angelopoulos 15.
Olympiacos (Ivkovic): Papaloukas 4, Νesterovic 4, Gordon 10 (6 assists), Spanoulis 3 (6 assists), Bourousis 12 (7 reb.), Κeselj 11, Μavrokefalides 15 (5 reb., 4 st.), Halperin 4, Glyniadakis 10 (5 reb.), Erceg 10, Τeodosic 9 (7 assists, 5 reb.), Κatsivelis.
Distress for Raso…
Raso Nesterovic was hurt in the left shoulder just before the end of the first half and left the court for the Kavala hospital where he had his shoulder re-located. The Slovenian center did not come back to Athens with the team and will be back Thursday at noon to undergo an MRI that will determine the extent of the damage.
Delay due to shuttered backboard
The game in Kavala was delayed for 33 minutes since just before the end of the first quarter the backboard was shattered following a dunk by Giannis Bourousis and it had to be replaced.
The quotes…
DUSAN IVKOVIC: I have asked from team to show some reaction in this game which is the second in a row that we play on the road and I think they have reacted pretty well. We have done a good reading of both defensive and offensive plays. We played controlled and good basketball in the first three quarters, but I’m not happy with the fourth one. The guys lost focus and started talking with the refs and it’s not just their fault. There was a 30 points game and no one could comprehend certain calls. Nesterovic’ injury certainly had an impact on the team and these are the cases when you need some luck.
TEO PAPALOUKAS: It was the last game before the most important one for us, that of Saturday against Panathinaikos. We knew we had to stay focused and thus we would easily win. We took a blow with Raso’s injury and in case he cannot play on Saturday, we have to show that we are a team, we have to stay together and win the top ranking spot of the Regular season.
DEMETRIS PRIFTIS: The games against teams like that of Olympiacos have a certain peculiarity. Everything depends on the consistency and focus of the opponent and tonight Olympiacos never left us any room. We gave minutes to everyone, since although playing the regular season, games have had a play-offs pace during the past few weeks. Karapostolou received a knee blow and I hope he will be well on Saturday and the same goes for Palacio. We have two more games ahead of us and I hope we can seal off a healthy season by making the play-offs. Palacio did not practice yesterday and I certainly have not protected him, although I could have done so, but his problem is big and he may not be playing on Saturday.
CHRISTOS PAPANIKOLAOU: The games against Olympiacos and Panathinaikos are very particular and we don’t stand many chances, but what really hurts us is that we are late to enter a rhythm. We have two important games ahead of us and we will try to win one or both to make the play-offs.