By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Both Will Clyburn and Tyler Dorsey put on some fantastic performances on the floor for CSKA Moscow and Olympiacos Piraeus respectively but only one could celebrate at the end.
It was Clyburn and CSKA that defeated Olympiacos 88 – 82 and got its fourth EuroLeague win in a row despite the absences of Nikola Milutinov and Tornike Shengelia. The American forward and former Final Four MVP finished with a season-high 29 points, dropping 11 of them in the last six minutes to lead his team to victory.
“The key of the game tonight was that everybody was on the same page defensively, especially in the second and third quarter, for sure,” Clyburn said. “We were all together, we were fighting and we just took advantage of the game plan that we had. I am glad we got the win. It was a tough game, a long game, and I am glad we got the win
Dorsey registered a new career-high 32 points on 7-10 3-pointers. He had 14 points in the first quarter when Olympiacos went up even by 12 and finished the period with a 20 – 25. He spent the entire second quarter at the bench and came back after the break.
Olympiacos coach Giorgos Bartzokas on why Tyler Dorsey didn't play at all in the second quarter vs. CSKA after scoring 14 in the first. pic.twitter.com/nxLBDm7olx
— Antonis Stroggylakis (@AStroggylakis) October 22, 2021
CSKA dominated in the second period to close halftime with a 48 – 38 advantage and stayed at the driver’s seat for the rest of the game. The Russian side led by as many as 17 points in the third period before Olympiacos made a 0 – 14 run to cut the deficit to three, 66 – 63, at the beginning of the final quarter.
Iffe Lundberg and Alexey Shved gave CSKA a new double-digit pillow. Olympiacos tried to make another comeback but the Reds’ defense didn’t have an answer for Clyburn’s aggressive play.
Dorsey scored for 86 – 82 with 22 seconds to play only for Joel Bolomboy to score a quick basket on the other end, sealing the game’s outcome.
“Our defensive effort was the key,” Olympiacos coach Giorgos Bartzokas said. “It wasn’t enough. Obviously, CSKA scored almost 90 points and we allowed Clyburn to make whatever he wanted inside the court. We needed to be more solid defensively if we wanted to win this game.”
Joel Bolomboy finished with 16 points and five rebounds and was instrumental for CSKA in the second period. Lundberg scored11 16 points.
Livio Jean-Charles had 11 points and six rebounds for Olympiacos.
All about the hustle and effort
CSKA coach Dimitris Itoudis saw his player increasing their intensity after the first quarter and applauded them for reacting efficiently after a rough start.
“Hustle, hustle, hustle and hustle,” Itoudis said. “We opened the game very bad, the first minutes. It was kind of like we were playing a friendly game. Even in friendly games, we don’t play like that. We got loose and tried to catch the rhythm. We realized that we had to play more aggressive and more physical, and I have to congratulate the team from the bottom of my heart. Our team did a great, tremendous job and a tremendous effort. But as I said, again, the most important thing is those that are playing and those that are healthy, they have a tremendous wish”
Photo: EuroLeague Basketball