Aris- P.A.O.K. 92-88
Aris defeated PAOK at home and equalized the series behind Vezenkov’s 23 points and 9 rebounds. The visitors achieved to set the pace in the beginning of the match by playing concentrated defense, forcing Aris to score tough points. 16-19 after one period and until the end of the half the home side was forced to follow from a close distance. 37-41 after 20’ with PAOK ending the half with a 10-2 run the only time Aris overtook them.
The restart of the game found coach Priftis’ team stepping up, they scored both from outside and inside the paint and got a 60-54 lead at the end of the 3rd period. PAOK did not give up and despite falling behind, they had a 16-3 partial score and one minute before the end they were trailing by one. However Thomas found the target from behind the arc and combined with the good free
throw totals at the end, the home team got the win.
Panathinaikos- Olympiacos 69-76
Olympiacos was superior and achieved the break. Now they are one step away from becoming the Greek Basket League Champions. The match was tight at the beginning with the score going back and forth until the last seconds when the home team allowed 5 consecutive points off turnovers to give their opponents a 14-21 lead. Panathinaikos recovered with a 10-0 partial score and the two teams once again were close until the last minute of the half when again the visitors got a +5 (33-38) lead, to reach until halftime.
Jankovic and Hunter quickly made their 4th fouls and for the home team, Mavrokefalides was once again fighting alone, managing to keep his club close with 10 points only during the 3rd period. Darden was there to establish the “Reds’” lead at the end of the quarter, 50-54, and now the pressure was heavy on Panathinaikos side. Olympiacos was looking to create a good point margin and so they did at the 34th minute, 58-67. After that, the home team came closer again but they missed a couple of important free throws that did not allow them to make the ending a close one. MVP was Darden with 14 points and very important shots while Printezis was the top scorer for his club with 17. Mavrtokefalides shined with 28 points for the defeated Panathinaikos that have to overcome themselves and stay alive in the title fight.
