Laboral Kutxa overcame Olympiacos 96-89 at the second time of asking in their Euroleague, Group B encounter as the Liga Endesa side needed overtime to get the job done.
Tied at 80-80, Mike James looked to have spectacuely won the game in the dying seconds of the fourth for Laboral Kutxa with a desperation three from just over half-way. After review though, the referees deemed the attempt to be after the shot clock and overtime was confirmed.
But thanks to Greek veteran Ioannis Bourousis’ heroics throughout, including overtime, the Spanish side got the win. Bourousis finished with stats of 27 points and 12 rebounds.
Matt Lojeski led all scorers for Olympiacos in vain with 28 points.
Barcelona survived a late scare to beat outsiders Stelmet Zielona Gora 78-72 in Group C and collect their first win of the new season.
Late in the final period though, the Polish side went on a 9-0 run to take a 68-66 lead but thanks to the calm play of Tomas Satoransky, who drained a triple with 45 seconds remaining, the Catalan side managed to snatch the win.
Samardo Samuels returned to Euroleague action with a game-high 23 points, as well as four blocks.
“We are happy for this win on an up-and-down night for us, that is the way I would define it,” Barca coach Xavi Pascual said. “We had a bad start on offense and defense and that opening 2-12 run conditioned the entire game. Our effort allowed us to change the game and return to it by playing smarter on offense and getting to control the game.”
Lokomotiv Kuban went to the top of Group C as they hung on to win away at Zalgiris 76-74.
The Russian side go to 2-0 but had to endure a last gasp attempt by Mantas Kalnietas who put a three up, and agonisingly missed. Malcolm Delaney paced the victors with 21 points.
“It’s very important to beat a tough team like Zalgiris Kaunas on the road,” Delaney said. “I don’t think we played our best game, but we did everything to win.”
There was an upset in France as Strasbourg deservedly beat Fenerbahce 91-70 in Group A.
Leading by seven heading into the fourth quarter, there were still small signs of a Fenerbahce fightback, but Strasbourg were not to be denied and pulled clear in the final quarter to record a big win, as Kyle Weems dropped 22 points for the French side.
Both teams now go to 1-1 in the group.
Brose Baskets demonstrated their own version of lob city as they beat Darussafaka Dogus 86-76 in Bamberg.
Darius Miller and Janis Strelnieks paced the winning attack with 13 points apiece as both teams go to 1-1 in Group D.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNlNTPj9jos
CSKA Moscow breezed to 2-0 in Group D after comfortably seeing off Dinamo Sassari 107-78 in Italy.
The Muscovites dished out 33 assists, tying a Euroleague record set by Real Madrid twice last year. CSKA also broke their own record points total in the competition for this century, beating the previous total of 103.
