Home EuroLeague Olympiacos edge Partizan in thriller

Olympiacos edge Partizan in thriller

OlympiacosOlympiacos put in the extra working minutes to beat a hard-nosed Partizan side, 83-80 after an overtime period in the Euroleague Final Four Semi Final in Paris.

Former Atlanta Hawk, Josh Childress and Serbian, Milos Teodosic paced the Greek giants, Olympiacos with 17 points between them. While Bo McCallebb scored an impressive 21 points, but to no effect for Partizan.

In what was a nerve-racking end to regulation. A Childress dunk off a chucked three pointer from Teodosic tied the score at 67, with two seconds left – cancelling out McCallebb’s breakaway lay-up. A long overtime period followed where only four field-goals were scored, and 21 free throws were attempted – 12 of those, were from Olympiacos, all 12 successfully made.

Partizan got out the blocks to start, by racing to a 10-2 lead, forcing Panagiotis Giannakis to call an early timeout. Both teams traded buckets before Teodosic drained a three just on the buzzer, to trim Partizan’s lead to two [15-17].

Greek international, Ioannis Bourousis tied the game mid-way through the second at 22, with a three-pointer, which was answered straight back by Partizan’s Petar Bozic. Veteran Theo Papaloukas put the Greek side ahead by one [26-25]. Which was later extended, thanks to a Teodosic triple. Olympiacos leading, 33-28 at the half.

The game then became a game of free-throws as 31 free throws were attempted during a long third and fourth quarter. Linas Kleiza pacing the Greeks throughout the second half of play. An Aleks Maric bucket tying the game at 52 going into the final regulation quarter.

Five straight McCalebb points, put Partizan up six [60-54], but the Greek powerhouses – cheered on by over 4,000 passionate Olympiacos fans, came roaring back and back-to-back Childress baskets, put his side up by one [63-62] coming towards the end of regulation. Partizan and Olympiacos though could not be separated and the drama of overtime followed – where Olympiacos held their nerve to claim victory.

John Hobbs for talkbasket.net – in Paris.

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