In possibly one of the most entertaining Euroleague games of the season, Galatasaray defeated Olympiacos 78-77 after an extra period was needed in Istanbul.
Jamon-Alfred Lucas led the victors with 17 points, with veteran Slovenian Jaka Lakovic providing the back-up with 16, despite going 1/8 from three-point range. Vassilis Spanoulis led all scorers with 24. Olympiacos now drop to 0-2 in the Top 16.
Galatasaray thought they had the game won at 69-66, when a hail-mary chuck from Kostas Sloukas, deep in his own half went straight in, silencing the 11,300 inside the Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall.
Sloukas celebrated as the Galatasaray players and fans wondered what on earth happened?
“I did not have time to think of anything,” Sloukas said about his half-court, buzzer-beating heroics. “I lifted my head, saw the time and throw the ball and said a prayer. I think god wanted me to score.”
The hosts though edged a close overtime period, as a bucket from Lucas with 27 seconds left turned out to be the last bucket of the game. Sloukas and Martynas Gecevicius missed shots in the remaining seconds to hand Galatasaray an epic win, their first in the Top 16.
“My players showed great character and resistance in overtime,” Galatasaray coach Oktay Mahmuti said afterwards.
Barca send strong message.
Barcelona comfortably defeated a strong Maccabi Electra side 71-57 in Tel-Aviv, displaying their intent of a place in the last-eight.
There had been questions of Barcelona’s performances recently, especially last week’s lacklustre win at home to Bennet Cantu, but Xavi Pascual’s side answered their critics with a sublime fourth quarter showing, improving to 2-0, .
This game marked the return of Juan Carlos Navarro to the line-up following his four-week lay-off on the injured list, he came off the bench to score five points.
The visitors’ pulled away in the final quarter in what was a close game up until the final ten minutes. Erazem Lorbek led Barca with 18 points, nine of which came in the final five minutes of the contest.
The first half was close, with Maccabi edging it 19-12 after the first ten minutes, Barcelona pulled it back to tie the game at the half (29-29), but the second half belonged to the ACB side, pulling away for a confidence boosting win. Maccabi with
Keith Langford led the hosts with 17 points as Maccabi are 1-1 in the Top 16.
Standings and results here.
Highligths Galatasray – Olympiacos:
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Highlights Maccabi – Barcelona:
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Player of the game Erazem Lorbek:
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Play of the game Richard Hendrix:
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Top 16 Week 2 noteable:
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Film of the game Maccabi – Barcelona:
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Top 16 Wekk 2 MVP Bo McCalebb:
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Top 16 Week 2 Top 10:
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