Sonny Weems scored all 12 of his points in overtime as CSKA Moscow finally outlasted Galatasaray 86-85 in the Russian capital in Group F of the Euroleague Top 16.
The Turkish side will also be sweating on the condition of Carlos Arroyo, who left the game during overtime and never came back. They will need him more than ever next week as they square off against Partizan knowing that a win will see them through.
Sasha Kaun led CSKA with 14 points, while a career night for Zoran Erceg of 35 points and 9 rebounds wasn’t enough for Galatasaray.
Thankfully for the Turks, Lokomotiv Kuban were convincingly beaten 81-55 by Real Madrid and with that loss, Kuban will need to beat Bayern Munich by 24 points or more next week if Galatasaray win. So Kuban will be hoping that Partizan score the upset victory in Istanbul.
In a dead rubber game down the bottom of Group F, Partizan scored some pride by beating Zalgiris 77-67 in Belgrade.
With both teams already eliminated, the match seemed at times to go at a reasonable pace with neither team threatening to make a significant run, but Zalgiris’ poor start proved their undoing in this contest.
Latvian international Davis Bertans led the way for Partizan with 17 points.
“We knew we are better team at the moment, especially at home,” Bertans said. “I don’t know the meaning and importance of our last game with Galatasaray, but I can promise we shall fight to win.”
Group E’s only game saw champions Olympiacos beat Anadolu Efes 83-78 in Istanbul as they celebrated their qualification to the quarter-finals with a win.
Vassilis Spanoulis led the Reds with 17 points but already learned of their progression the previous night thanks to other results. Anadolu Efes were already eliminated.
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