Home court advantage secured!

Olympiacos beat Villeurbanne 81-55, secured home court advantage for the Euroleague playoffs and is now solely focusing on the Friday game (31/03) with Panathinaikos. 

Against the French team, the ‘red & whites’ lined up without Moustapha Fall (ill) and Isaiah Canaan (who is in the States on leave). 

Relying on good defence (that forced the French to commit 8 turnovers in the first quarter, with zero assists) and the energy that Thomas Walkup and Shaquielle McKissic brought on the floor, Olympiacos set the tempo and ‘built’ a +13 lead (20-7) at 8’.  

Running a partial 6-0 (all the points from the free throw line), Villeurbanne closed in to 9p. (22-13) at 10’. Our team increased the margin to +16 (29-13), but a scoreless five minute period ensued, during which the guests found target from the perimeter and closed in to 5p. (29-24 at 17’). Upon Shaquielle McKissic returning on the floor, our team once again found the way to scoring and closed the first half at +8 (37-29).  

In the second half, the ‘red & whites’ came in focused, put pressure in the defence, moved the ball efficiently and skyrocketed the difference to 19p. (54-39 at 28’). Despite the win having been decided early on, Olympiacos refused to pull the brakes and widened the distance even further (+26, 81-55) with a three by George Papas.  

The quarters: 22-13, 37-29, 56-39, 81-55. 

OLYMPIACOS 

VILLEURBANNE