Epic qualification for Olympiacos to the Final Four of the Euroleague winning 63-59 in Barcelona. Following a very challenging game, falling behind in the score up to the ’35, Olympiacos managed to pull off a win in the final ‘5 minutes of the game winning the game and securing its ticket to Berlin where the team will play against Barcelona in the semifinals.
The game began with intensity and poor quality play. Olympiacos struggled making hasty shots. Despite the teams solid defense, Laprovittola’s 8 points gave Barcelona an early lead. Papanikolaou’s three-pointer and Milutinov’s entrance improved Olympiacos’ rebounds, ending the first period 12-9. In the second quarter, Barcelona increased their lead to 9 points, but Olympiacos, led by Milutinov, managed to narrow the gap to 25-21 by halftime.
The third quarter both teams struggled to score due to the pressure and anxiety (31-30, 24’). However, the Barcelona managed to break through, extending their lead to 38-30 with a successful three-pointer (25’). Yet, Walker’s three-pointer and 4 points from Petrousef quickly narrowed the score to 38-36 (27’). Just before the final whistle, Papanikolaou tied the game at 40 points, and despite chances for Petrousef and Goes, they couldn’t put their team ahead.Olympiacos missed a chance to lead early in the final quarter, and Enràngelometh and Laprovittola capitalised on it, extending the score to 47-42 (33’). Despite their struggles in shooting three-pointers and free throws, the Piraeus team persisted and managed to narrow the gap. With a three-pointer from McKissic, they finally took the lead for the first time, with a score of 47-49 (35’).
Olympiacos won due to the teams’ determination, overcoming a lack of quality in the game. McKissic and Papanikolaou’s three-pointers, along with solid defense, secured the win. Milutinov stood out with a double-double, while McKissic’s late-game heroics were crucial. Papanikolaou was exceptional on both ends, but Kalinić and Parker underperformed. Laprovittola’s strong performance for Barcelona wasn’t enough. Despite poor shooting, Olympiacos capitalized when it mattered most.
