By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
When Evan Fournier and Sasha Vezenkov each score 25 points, you expect Olympiacos to win.
That didn’t happen in Lyon, as ASVEL got the 81-70 win over the Greeks and can be happy for the night, even if that doesn’t change the big picture.
ASVEL improved to a 12-19 record that doesn’t mean much and remains 15th in the standings, while Olympiacos is first at 22-9, having one win more than second-placed Fenerbahce.
Theo Maledon, with 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, and despite three turnovers, was once more ASVEL’s leader, while veteran Nado De Colo scored 18 points.
“You always want to know your history, you always want to represent your history, and we did that tonight, the best way possible, against the best team in the EuroLeague right now“, said Theo Maledon referring to ASVEL using this night to celebrate the past and wearing the traditional green jersey of the pre-Tony Parker era and club legend Delaney Rudd in attendance.
A great finish for ASVEL
With Olympiacos having the advantage for the top spot of the standings and ASVEL out of the playoffs, the game started with a lack of tension, as the guests closed the first quarter up by two (16-14) as Vezenkov already had nine points.
ASVEL managed to make things interesting, getting a 26-19 lead after a three by David Lighty; however, with Fournier taking action and scoring 17 first-half points, Olympiacos took the lead back (36-35) and closed the second period up by two (39-37) thanks to a three by Vezenkov.
ASVEL took the lead back (46-42) with a 9-3 partial score and even closed the third quarter up by six (58-52). However, Olympiacos opened the last period with a 7-0 run, getting the lead back (59-58) after a three by Fournier.
Entering the last five minutes, the score was tied at 65, however, ASVEL scored seven straight points, entering the last three minutes with the score 72-65 in their favor.
That was enough. Olympiacos couldn’t get back into striking distance, and ASVEL, thanks to Nando De Colo and Theo Maledon, controlled the game until the end.
Photo credit: EuroLeague