A game-winning jumper from Raul Lopez gave Gescrap Bilbao a 60-59 home win over Montepaschi Siena, as the Euroleague returned from its week-long break.
In what wasn’t your typical free-flowing contest, Bilbao found themselves up 58-56 with 13.9 seconds remaining when Igor Rakocevic and Bootsy Thornton struck to give the visitors a 59-58 lead heading into the final few seconds. Lopez though hit the game winner to hand Siena its first Top 16 loss.
“The winning shot was mine, but this is not the important thing here, the most important thing is that we won and we are closer to the playoffs,” Lopez said afterwards.
Bilbao coach Fotios Katsikaris admitted that he wanted the ball in Lopez’s hands for the final possession.
“I knew the last shot should be made by Raul. He has made these kinds of shots in practice,” he said.
Despite the defeat, Montepaschi Siena are all but through to the next stage as they drop to 4-1. Bilbao improve their record to 3-2 and will advance to the last-eight with another win, or if Real Madrid lose any of its remaining games.
Marko Banic pace the victors with a game-high 16 points, supported by Lopez’s 15 points. Alex Mumbru hit 10. Montepaschi were led by Rakocevic’s 14 points with Bo McCalebb helping out with 12.
Three-point fest as CSKA seal top spot.
CSKA Moscow hit 13 three-pointers as they comfortably despatched of Olympiacos 96-64 to win Group E.
The Russians hit their first ten three-pointers and led from tip to buzzer as they became the first team to confirm their place in the last-eight. Olympiacos drop to 2-3, but can still qualify if they defeat Galatasaray next week.
Andrey Vorontsevich led CSKA with 15 points with Milos Teodosic contributing with 14, as all 12 players registered their name on the scoresheet, including Viktor Khryapa, who returned two weeks earlier than expected. He played just over ten minutes and scored two points.
CSKA were an incredible 75% from the field, including 65% from three-point land.
It was a night to forget to freezing Moscow for the Greeks. Vassilis Spanoulis was the only player in double-figures, as he hit 12 points.
Anadolu Efes crash out.
Galatasaray defeated Anadolu Efes 64-56 at the Abdi Ipekci Arena to end Efes’ dream of playing in a home court Final Four.
For Galatasaray though, they are 3-2 will now square off against Olympiacos next week with the winner going through.
Luksa Andric paced the victors with 15 points and seven rebounds while Jaka Lakovic, Josh Shipp and Jamon Lucas hit 9. Efes were led by Stanko Barac’s 16 points.