A huge win in Belgrade!

Olympiacos beat Partizan in Belgrade 74-69 and remained in the top-4 trajectory!

Bad shooting and missed rebounds (3 for 13 of the hosts) cost the 'red & whites' in the first quarter and allowed Partizan to build a 9p. lead (22-13 at 9'). The change in the line-up (Goss, Larentzakis, McKissic, Sikma and Wright) got to change the status... The pressed in the back-court, fought for the rebounds and with Nigel Williams-Goss and Moses Wright running point in the offense, they equaled the score at 17' (28-28). 

19.6'' before the first half final buzzer the score was 34-30 for the hosts, but the foul called on Larentzakis and the unsportsmanlike called on McKissic on the same play, once again shifted balance, with Partizan upping the score to 40-30, exclusively scoring from the three-point line. Goss made the 40-32 that marked the end of the first half, who sprinted from one end of the court to the other and beat the clock with a lay-up. 

Unforced turnovers by our team, combined with bad decision making in the offense and the superiority of the Serbian team in the post, gave Partizan the chance to increase the distance to 14p. (52-38 at 27'). Olympiacos tried to recover with long range shots, but Kevin Punter was unstoppable and countered every 'red & whites' effort to turn the tables (59-46 at 30'). 

In the fourth quarter though, Bartzokas' players stepped up. They were significantly more effective with their defense, ran the fast-break and running a partial 12-2 streak got ahead 64-61 at 36'. Punter was there once again and the game turned into a first-class derby (69-69, with 42'' on the clock). However, with a steel defense (that did not allow Partizan to score again), a dunk by Fall, 2/2 free throws by Goss and 1/2 free throws by the French center, Olympiacos put his seal on the win. 

• Filip Petrusev and Nikola Milutinov were off the roster due to injuries. The latter traveled to Belgrade on the day of the game to be with the team. Michalis Lountzis, who is ill was also out.

The quarters: 22-17, 40-32, 59-46, 69-74.

PARTIZAN

OLYMPIACOS