Lost, but will not give up the fight
Olympiacos was defeated by Barcelona 80-82 in the overtime (71-71 regular time) and is now called to give it all in the Thursday game, so as to force a 5th game in Barcelona that will allow him to fight for the ticket that leads to the Berlina Final 4.
The 'red & whites' were shooting very poorly in the first quarter (5/11 2-pointers and 1/6 threes), whoever, they managed to keep the balance thanks to their good defensive game (13-13 at 10'). The game remained a closed one up until 15' (25-25). However, Olympiacos got to pass the ball inside the post to Moses Wright and Filip Petrusev and got to build a +8 lead for the first time in the game (37-29). Finally, with a 3-pointer by Kalnietis, the Blaugrana shaped the 37-32 score that marked the end of the first half.
In the second half, the Catalans opened fire from the perimeter, took advantage of turnovers and bad decisions our team made and got ahead 42-45. With two back to back threes by Walkup and Peters, Olympiacos once again got ahead in the score, but Barcelona continued to execute with excellent percentages from the perimeter and closed the 3rd quarter with +6 (51-57). By bulking up their defense and with Goss and Petrusev running point in the offense, the 'red &whites' replied with a partial 18-6 and found themselves leading by 6 (69-63) at 39'. The guests once again 'struck' from the 3-point line and closed in to one bucket (71-69 at 39'). Walkup made an unsuccessful attempt to score a three, Satoranksy followed with a missed one of his own, but the ball remained in the guests hands, who got to tie the game with a layup by Laprovitola, who made it under close up pressure by Fall. Goss had the chance to finish the game, but an open shot he took at the buzzer did not fall in.
The battle continued into the overtime... 50'' before the final buzzer, Olympiacos was at +3 with a bucket by Fall, Satoransky tied the score at 80 points, Goss failed to bury a three-pointer with 8'' left in the game, while with 0.5'' on the clock, the referees called a foul on Petrusev on his attempt to block Parker who was going for a 3-pointer and the latter gave the win to Barcelona making 2 of his 3 free throws.
*Captain Kostas Papanikolaou did not make the roster, since he was not deemed ready, together with Naz Mitrou Long, Michalis Lountzis and Giorgos Tanoulis.
The quarters: 13-13, 37-32, 51-57, 71-71. Παρ.: 80-82.
OLYMPIACOS
BARCELONA
