By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Holding on through the second half, Olympiacos recorded the win, 76-74, against rival Panathinaikos in OAKA Altion Sunday.
Giannoulis Larentzakis tucked in six of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Reds repelled the late comeback bids all the way to the dying seconds of the Basket League Regular Season Round 29 contest.
Leading by two points, the defense got the job done as time ran out. The home side, including play-caller Christos Serelis, argued the no-foul call on Giorgos Papagiannis in the last play while he was trying to rebound the ball with 0.7 left on the clock after a missed shot by Derrick Williams.
Isaiah Canaan and Shaquielle McKissic chipped in 12 points each for the team coached by Giorgos Bartzokas. Sasha Vezenkov had nine points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Greece’s reigning champions have won all 51 games across domestic competitions since November 2021, including 12 in a row in the derby of the eternal rivals. Improving the 2022-23 Basket League Regular Season record to 18-0, they clinched the top seed and homecourt advantage in all stages of the Playoffs.
On the losing end, Dwayne Bacon twisted his left ankle but returned before the conclusion of the first half. The Florida State product ended up with a game-high 17 points. Paris Lee tallied 14 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
After picking up an injury in the most recent round of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, Mateusz Ponitka was ruled out by the Greens along with Matt Thomas, unregistered at the domestic level. Picking available foreign players, Olympiacos held out Tarik Black.
Yannick Franke drops 35 points
With 35 points in action based in Thessaloniki, Dutch Yannick Franke registered a new season-high and powered PAOK mateco to the 87-79 victory versus Karditsa Biologiko Xorio. Also on Sunday, Kolossos H Hotels routed Apollon Carna, 88-68.
Basket League Round 29
Lavrio Megabolt – Aris 81-70
Ionikos – Peristeri bwin 75-102
Kolossos H Hotels – Apollon Carna 88-68
Panathinaikos – Olympiacos 74-76
PAOK mateco – Karditsa Biologiko Xorio 87-79
Promitheas – AEK PPD
STANDINGS: Olympiacos 36 (18-0), Panathinaikos 32 (14-4), Peristeri 31 (12-7), PAOK 30 (11-8), AEK 29 (11-7)…