A loss at the OAKA
Olympiacos lost to Panathinaikos at the OAKA (78-72) for the 15th day of the Bakset League and has lost home court advantage for the playoffs.
Olympiacos made a good beginning in the game, with efficient ball movement and Moustapha Fall finishing plays at the rim, while the team was also focused on the defensive end of the game (4-10, 4'). However, the hosts' pressure on the ball led the guests to numerous turnovers and the lead changed hands (14-12, 7'). Our team was not shooting well from the long range and did not have the necessary intensity in defense, resulting in a partial 15-2 (19-12, 8') that caused to trail by 9 at the end of the quarter (25-14). In the second quarter, the 'red & white' defense continued being ineffective, while offensive wise clear thinking was absent (31-17, 12'). The first three for our team came by Giannoulis Larentzakis (31-20), for two back-to-back ones by Alec Peters to follow (35-26, 17') and an eventual 10-0 for the guests who 'fed' Milutinov and dropped the difference to 5 points (35-30, 18'). Half-time ended at 38-30, following a barrage of lost defensive rebounds.
The next quarter began with two 3-pointers by Thomas Walkup and Sasha Vezenkov and 2 more points by the latter that made the score 43-38, (13'). Our team played with better concentration on its defensive duties and more patience in defense, closing in to 3 points, thanks to a three by Kostas Papanikolaou (46-43, 15'). The mini 5-0 run by the hosts was again interrupted by a three scored by the captain (51-46), with Sasha Vezenkov taking over to tie the score 55-55 (28') and a one-point lead (56-57). In the 1:21'' left in the quarter, though, Panathinaikos run a 5-0 partial that made the score 61-57. In the last ten minutes, a 3-pointer by Williams-Goss made for a 1-point game (61-60), while Nikola Milutinov gave our team the lead (61-62, 31'). Panathinaikos got to strike from the perimeter taking the lead once again (72-65, 35'). Our team succumbed to turning the ball over, entered the final two minutes trailing by 9 (76-68, 38') and lost 78-72.
The quarters: 25-14, 38-30, 61-57, 78-72.
