A win at the OAKA for Olympiacos
Olympiacos claimed the win in the first game of the year, defeating Panathinaikos 87–82 at the OAKA and securing their 10th consecutive EuroLeague victory against their eternal rival.
The 'red & whites' were led by Sasha Vezenkov, who finished top scorer with 24 points, while Nikola Milutinov was the Most Valuable Player based on PIR, recording 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Giorgos Bartzokas started the game with Walkup, Dorsey, Papanikolaou, Vezenkov, and Milutinov, and our captain opened the score with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 0–5. Tyler Dorsey scored 5 of the team’s first 10 points, while Nikola Milutinov extended the lead to 2–12 with two dunks. Kenneth Faried responded for the 'greens', but Olympiacos, shooting mainly from the perimeter, built a 15-point lead (5–20) after 5 minutes of ga
me time.
That margin remained at the end of the first quarter (13–28), with Tyler Dorsey becoming the first player to reach double figures (10 points) and Sasha Vezenkov following with 7.
In the second quarter, Panathinaikos started stronger and went on a 6–0 run to cut the deficit to 9 points (19–28). Although Olympiacos opened the game with 4/4 from the 3-point range, they missed their next ten attempts, allowing Panathinaikos to get back into the game.
Nunn quickly reached 12 points and reduced the gap to five (29–34 at 16’). Vezenkov found rhythm at that point, but Ergin Ataman’s team caught fire from beyond the arc and, with a 30–15 run, tied the game at halftime (43–43). In the second half, both defenses stepped up, making scoring more difficult. Olympiacos found several second-chance opportunities, led by Milutinov, while Vezenkov and Dorsey maintained their excellent offensive pace.
The 4th quarter began with the score tied at 61–61, and the battle intensified. Olympiacos remained calmer in the crucial moments, and with contributions from Morris, Vezenkov, and Dorsey, secured the valuable 87–82 win, improving their record to 11–7.
The quarters: 13–28, 43–43, 61–61, 82–87
