By Nikos Varlas/varlas@eurohoops.net
The hosts prevailed 77-69 and can hope to avoid a playoffs match up with Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow, while Olympiacos despite a good start, couldn’t get into stricking distance.
To be exact the Greeks started the game with a 10-2 run, but at the end of the first period were trailing by seven (22-15) and pretty much this didn’t change until the end. Anadolu Efes had a 43-36 lead at half time, an eight points advantage at the end of the third (58-50) and the best that Olympiacos did was cut their lead to five (70-65).
Thomas Heurtel with 18 points and 5 assists led the charge, while the trio of Tyler Honeycutt (11 p., 11 r., 6 as.), Bryant Dunston (11 p.) and Brandon Paul (11 p.) provided real help.
The good news for Olympiacos is that after 20 days of injuries and illness, Vasilis Spanoulis was back in form with a double double (11 p. 10 r.). Giorgos Printezis scored 16. The Reds played without Nikola Milutinov (flu) and Erick Green was injured during the game and wasn’t used in the second half. After this result Olympiacos is locked in the third position of the final standings.