By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Zalgiris prevailed in overtime (86-85) against the Reds who were playing without Giorgos Printezis, Kostas Papanikolaou, Jamel McLean and Kim Tillie.
Olympiacos had everything under control for 25 minutes and even led by 16 points. However, Zalgiris turned things around and captain Paulius Jankunas with a tip-in just three seconds before the end of the overtime gave to the Lithuanians the win. In total Jankunas scored 15 points and Brandon Davies also had a big game with 18.
Vassilis Spanoulis had an open three at the end of the overtime and the chance to win the game for Olympiacos, but the ball didn’t go in.
Things seemed easy in the first half for the hosts, as Olympiacos got a 25-10 lead by the end of the first period and kept it until the end. Hollis Thompson set the tone early by scoring eight points in the first quarter and Spanoulis added seven on his way to 16 points in total.
Zalgiris couldn’t stop Olympiacos‘ transition offense, they paid for their first bad quarter and had to catch up with the Reds. The hosts led by 16 points (59-43) at the third with Brian Roberts scoring 12 points up to this point and everything seemed lost for Zalgiris. When nobody expected them to, the Lithuanians reacted finished the period with a 13-0 run and cut the lead to three (59-56).
The guests made it a one-point game (59-58) with their first shot in the last quarter and set the stage for their final comeback. After trailing for 35 minutes, Zalgiris got a 74-71 lead after the first made shot of Arturas Milankins in the game. The Lithuanians even led by four (80-76) in the last minute but Kyle Wiltjer tied the score at 80 and forced overtime. Still, Zalgiris couldn’t be denied at the end.