They want to be back on the pitch next May to claim the Euroleague title, Olympiacos beat Zalgiris 74-72 in game 29 to seal the play-off qualifier.

At the Zalgirio Arena, Olympiacos, even without Kostas Sloukas in the starting lineup, not only remained first in the table with 21 wins – 8 losses, but also became the first team to mathematically secure a place in the playoffs.

MVP Sasha Vezenkov (25b., 8p.) scored the winning basket in a match that was a “thriller” at the end, although Olympiacos was ahead by +14. And immediately after that, Larentsakis cut Ulanovas, while the latter missed a simple and last attack of the match, and Fal collected a defensive rebound.

Schmitz gave Zalgiris a 1:12 lead on a three-pointer (72–70), but immediately fouled McKissick on a three-point attempt as the American landed two of three shots to tie the game at 72–72.

The Lithuanians, who are now losing the final until the end of the regular season, gave everything in an effort to be in the top eight, but in the end they were content with their 14th defeat (15-14). Žalgiris’ top scorer was Rolands Schmitz with 18 points, while Tomas Dimsa scored 17 points.

Maxvitis had 13/28 three-pointers, Olympiacos had 7/25. Piraeus had 23 passes and 12 errors, while they had 14 interceptions (3 interceptions for the home team).

Quarters: 17-15, 34-40, 49-61, 72-74

Olympiacos started with Walkup, Kanan, Papanikolaou, Vezenkov and Fal. Lekavičius, Ulanovas, Butkevičius, Polonara and Schmitz started in Zalgiris’ top five.

Olympiacos took a 7-2 lead, after constipation, and the usual… suspects (Vokap, Fal and Vezenkov) immediately opened… the score. Zalgiris overtook with a score of 10:9 thanks to a three-pointer from Lekavičius. The Piraeus team received 7 points from Vezenkov by the end of the 1st period, but, despite 2/8 three-pointers from the hosts, by the end of the 1st period they were -2 behind (17-15).

The Lithuanians overtook +5 (22-17), with Dimsy’s new 3-pointer (he also hit outside 6.75 in the 1st period). Bartzokas saw Lorentsakis and Lutzis justify this by responding to Žalgiris. However, Polonara’s three-pointer also brought Lithuanians +6 (29-23). The superiority of Maxvitis players in offensive rebounds created problems for the Red-Whites. But from then until the break, Shaquille McKissick took it … personally he scored 9 points, and thanks to his excellent game in attack, Piraeus led (34-35) and 34-40 (first half score).

Zalgiris equalized with a score of 40:40, while Lekavičius and Ulanovas led 6:0. And then… Sasha Vezenkov’s solo concert began. Olympiacos’ leading player scored the red-whites’ next eight points in 42-48. The baton was taken over by Kostas Papanikolaou, +14 (45-59) for Olympiacos with his three-pointer. After defeating the hosts 4:0, Vezenkov “finished” the score 49:61, reaching 21 personal points in the 30th minute.

“Zalgiris” entered the court decisively in the 4th period and gave everything to confusion. With an individual score of 16-6, due to three-pointers from Schmitz, Dimsha and Butkevicius, the Lithuanians hit the basket (65-67), with 4:48 left. McKissick called “the real” in a decisive moment (65-69), and after 66-69 Walkup made a decisive interception. But Fall in the next Olympiacos attack made an unsuccessful pass to Vezenkov, and the ball was off target. And Tomas Dimsa was accurate in idle time, taking a foul from Vezenkov, the Lithuanians equalized the score (69-69). McKissick converted 1/2 free throws from Schmitz (69-70), Deems missed three, and Fal made another foul. Schmitz, however, would hit the target with 1:12 left, a 3-pointer (72-70). McKissick went up a 3-pointer at 50 feet and luckily for Olympiacos, Schmitz fouled the American and McKissick landed three shots. He landed 1st and 3rd and with a score of 72-72. Olympiacos took the defense down in Žalgiris’ next attack, with Larentsakis making the decisive interception at Ulanovas in the 28th minute, and Vezenkov receiving the ball from Vokap’s pass and spinning the winning basket of the match, freezing Žalgirio. Arena, 6”. Ulanovas missed, and Fall, who did a great job tonight, collected rebounds and won Olympiacos.

Judges: Ryzhik (Ukraine), Garcia (Spain), Letkano (Argentina).

ZALGIRIS KAUNAS (Kazis Maksvytis): Lekavičius 5 (1), Hayes, Smits 18 (4), Birutis 3, Brazdeikis 5 (1), Polonara 5 (1), Dimša 17 (3), Butkevičius 7 (1), Ulanovas 12 (2)

OLYMPIAKOS (Giorgos Bartzokas): Walkup 3 (1), Keinan 2, Luntsis 3 (1), Larentsakis 7 (1), Fall 6, Vezenkov 25 (2), Papanikolaou 8 (1), Peters 2, Black, McKissick 18 ( 1)

Huge “double” Partizan

With a huge and very valuable double, Partizan returned to a two-for-two victory this year against Anadolu Efes, now having the advantage in the event of a draw. Zelimir Obradovic’s side beat the home of two consecutive European champions 97-84 in Game 29 of the Euroleague, improving their record to 16-13 and taking another step towards securing their playoff presence. On the other hand, Anadolu Efes fell to 14-15 and is now two wins away from the top eight.

Partizan’s turbulent fourth period changed the game: the visitors reduced the score from 72-71 to an epic 0-16, and in the 37th minute the difference was 15 points (72-87)!

Kevin Pander (19 pts) and James Nunnally (16 pts) were the protagonists of the turnaround winners, while Jacques Leday (16 pts) and Matthias Lesort (17 pts) did a great job in the high lane. Ioannis Papapetrou remained on the floor for 9 minutes, scoring 2 points and 1 rebound.

From the Turkish team tried Will Clyburn with 22 points and 8 rebounds.

Quarters: 23-11, 37-39, 64-63, 84-97