By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The law of the home court prevailed and with a big three by Acie Law 1,5 minute before the end of the game, Olympiacos got a six points lead (76-70) that led to a 82-72 win over Anadolu Efes. The defending Euroleague champions with 3-2 wins prevailed after a hard fought series.
In the most crucial game of the season so far, Olympiacos leader Vasilis Spanoulis responded by scoring 19 points and dishing 5 assist – making also 4 turnovers – and last season’s hero of the final Giorgos Printezis had 15 points and 7 rebounds. Still, Efes was in the game until the last two minutes, even leading 67-66 five minutes before the end.
What should be noted is that coach Mahmuti couldn’t use Jordan Farmar in the last quarter because he was hurt in his right knee with the team already missing one more NBAer, Sasha Vujacic, due to disciplinary reasons. Once again former Olympiacos player Jamon Lucas Gordon was the top scorer of the Turkish team (14 p., 6 r., 5 as.), the trick of a box and one zone defense by Efes with one player defending man to man Spanoulis worked quite well, but in the last four minutes the guests scored just five points, with three of them being free throws.