By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A 25-5 run was enough for Khimki to decimate Olympiacos at home (98-66) and retain its chances to qualify to the playoffs, whereas the Reds now are on the brink of elimination.
For the winners, James Augustine had 18 points (on 9 of 10 shooting) and 10 rebounds, with Petteri Koponen and Alexey Shved adding 21 and 19 points, respectively. On the other hand, Othello Hunter scored 14 points and grabbed seven boards for the losing squad.
Khmiki made a better start to the game (7-2), but Olympiacos immediately tied the game (9-9). The hosts went on a 10-4 run to regain the lead (19-13), however the Reds cut the deficit to three at the end of the first quarter (25-22).
Later, no team could take a significant advantage (27-27, 29-31), but the Russians enhanced their overall performance and closed the first half in a 19-5 run to take a 12-point advantage (48-36).
In the second half, Khimki extended its lead to 18 points (54-36), but the Greeks tried to respond again (54-42). The hosts, though, had everything under control and easily retained their double-digit advantage after 30 minutes in the game (76-50).
In the fourth quarter, nothing changed significantly, as the visitors were playing very badly on both ends of the floor, and couldn’t make a come-back (82-52). Consequently, the hosts earned an easy home victory to retain their chances to qualify to the playoffs (98-66).