Whoever anticipated hand-to-hand battles for forty minutes, whoever anticipated a derby taken from different many years, whoever anticipated Barcelona and Olympiakos to conflict in each section, have been vindicated on Wednesday evening (24/4). Two nice groups gave an actual basketball present in Palau Blaugrana, with the Piraeus taking the victory (77-73), making the break with “good night” within the EuroLeague quarterfinal collection and having 4 possibilities for the 2 outcomes that can ship them to the Remaining 4 in Berlin.
Magical show from Nigel Williams-Goss, huge first interval show from Mustafa Fal and second interval from Filip Petrusev, magical show from the crimson and whites total in defence, with Isaiah Cannon taking the large pictures and placing them in as nicely Giorgos Bartzokas to cowl much more the absence of Kostas Papanikolaou. Earlier than locking up the match with Nikola Milutinov, who got here on halfway by way of the fourth interval for the primary time within the match and had a catalytic contribution.
Billy Hernangometh, Alex Abrines and Jabari Parker have been those who stood out from Barcelona, who “put” their world within the match many instances, have been very busy with the referees, however each time they acquired shut and had alternatives to go ahead, one thing was lacking . Roger Grimmow anticipated extra from Satoransky and Vesely, however the 40 minutes went down in historical past and will probably be rapidly forgotten because the second recreation of the collection follows in two nights.
Sequence outcomes and schedule
Recreation 1: Barcelona – Olympiacos 73-77
Recreation 2: Barcelona – Olympiacos 26/4 at 22:00
Recreation 3: Olympiacos – Barcelona 30/4 at 21:30
Recreation 4: Olympiacos – Barcelona 2/5 at 19:45 (if mandatory)
Recreation 5: Barcelona – Olympiacos 8/5 (if mandatory)
Ο MVP
Nice performances from Nigel Williams-Goss and Isaiah Cannon, it will likely be unfair if one will get the award. We share it with them and they’re going to certainly be happy. The previous was superb on an evening when Thomas Walkup was unprepared and had plenty of bother with fouls, the latter took and put in massive pictures, in a stadium he actually loves.
The weak hyperlink
Jan Vesely misplaced the battles in each rackets. He didn't assist his group in scoring (he had three factors from pictures), however Tomas Satoranski was additionally dangerous. It was the 2 Czechs who fell behind for Barcelona.
The race
With Peters at three and Sikmas at 4, Olympiacos opened the match, with Fal having no opponent within the raker. The Frenchman scored the primary three baskets of the competition (0-6 in 4'), earlier than Williams-Goss scored 5 runs for 4-11 as Barzokas had already changed Kanan (damage) – Peters (two fouls). Parker and Laprovitola collected the distinction within the level, however Fal's dominance was common and 18-19 of the interval truthful. Even when he didn't say the slightest factor.
Bartzokas opened the second with Wright at 5, put Larentzakis rather than Brazdeikis at 12' with the rating at 25-23 and noticed Petrusev-Williams-Goss write 30-32 at 14'. An unsportsmanlike foul on Wright despatched the gang right into a frenzy, Wright was 0/2, Palau started to shake the gang, and Kanan answered with a three-pointer to make it 34-42 at 18'. At a degree the place others would have melted like sweets, Olympiacos held on, went to +10 (34-44) with Petrusev and closed the primary half at a good way.
Bartjokas opened the second half with McKissick on the 2 and Peters on the three, stored Kanaan on the bench, noticed Walkup get technical within the twenty third minute and attain 4 fouls, but additionally noticed Williams-Goss rating from mid-range for 40-51 at 24'. And to attain a goal-foul for 47-60 at 27'. Barcelona responded with a small 7-0, decreased and put their individuals again into the match, however as soon as once more Olympiacos appeared to have a greater footing in Palau.
The Reds went and not using a level for 3:21 early within the fourth till Kanaan hit a 3-pointer to make it 58-64. Even there they held on, when the whole lot appeared in opposition to them, even when Fal was charged together with his fourth foul. The protection continued to be superb, McKissick made it 59-69 on the spurt and when Barcelona acquired all the way down to the basket, Kanan made a 3-pointer to make it 67-72, the protection got here out and Milutinov nailed and drew the foul for 67- 75.
At 63″ Walkup misplaced the ball and dedicated an unsportsmanlike foul, was despatched off and gave Barcelona the perfect probability to drag it off. Rubio took the pictures, however Laprovitola made a poor move to Hernangomet. Olympiacos known as a timeout, Petrusev was fouled in an try and nail, he was injured and changed by Larentzakis at 35.9″. He took the pictures, put them in for 72-77 and at last determined the match.
THE REFEREES: Yavor, Hordov, Peranti
THE DECADES: 18-19, 35-44, 54-61, 73-77
