Kaunas “Žalgiris” will have a chance to become the sole leaders of the Euroleague on Friday. Barcelona (5/2), who had an even win-loss record, could not hold their own against Olympiacos Piraeus (4/3) – 95:74 (21:17, 23:19, 21:14, 30:24).
The Catalans’ five-game winning streak ended in Greece. In the event of a victory on Friday at home against AS Monaco, the Kaunas team would become the undisputed leaders of the Euroleague with 6 wins.
The game started slowly in Piraeus, but when Shaquielle McKissic stepped on the court, the home team’s offense came alive, the American scored 10 points in his stretch and Olympiacos pulled away, 30-22.
Moses Wright dunks in front of Chimezie Metu!😤@Olympiacos_BC #FlightTime I @TurkishAirlines pic.twitter.com/AOxKcLTogG
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) October 31, 2024
In the first half of the game, Barca had big problems in the fight for the ball – OLY took 7 offensive balls and gained a double-digit lead (39:28) at the end of the second quarter. The guests attracted by Kevin Punter quickly came close (36:41), but Tyler Dorsey hit a three-pointer with the halftime siren – 44:36.
S. Vezenkovs started the decisive quarter with five points (70:50) and although the Catalans still managed to reduce the deficit (55:70), the last minutes became a formality.
in 2023 The EuroLeague MVP was again the MVP. S. Vezenkovas collected 18 points (4/6 doubles, 1/1 triples, 7/7 penalty), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 provoked fouls and 27 utility points in 24 minutes.
Olympiacos: Evan Fournier 19, Saša Vezenkov 18 (7/7 points, 27 shots), Nikola Milutinov (8 rebounds) and Tyler Dorsey 12 each, Shaquielle McKissic 10.
„Barcelona“: Kevin Punter 18 (7/7 penalties), Chimezie Metu 12, Willy Hernangomez 11.
Euroleague Ball Drama – Kaunas or Bust!
Ladies and gentlemen, gather ’round! We’ve got ourselves a juicy basketball story straight out of the Euroleague! Kaunas “Žalgiris” is poised for glory. The thrill, the despair, the sheer unpredictability—if this were any more dramatic, it could have come with a “Rated R for Ridiculous” sticker! So, grab your popcorn (or a pint of something stronger) and let’s talk hoops!
Barcelona, once riding high on a five-game winning streak, has effectively sunk like a lead balloon in Piraeus, losing to Olympiacos with a resounding thud: 95-74. I mean, when the score feels like a game of tennis, you know you’re in for some serious ball drama! The Catalans seem to have confused their basketball with a game of hide-and-seek. Spoiler alert: they hid too well during the second quarter!
At first, the game started rather slowly—much like a cat deciding whether to jump onto your lap or not. But then, enter the hero of the hour, Shaquielle McKissic, striding onto the court like he owned the place—because he practically did! With just ten points in a flash, he helped Olympiacos pull away to a comfortable lead. It’s amazing how much chaos one player can cause. If he keeps this up, I wouldn’t be surprised if a movie featuring his life story surfaces on Netflix… or perhaps not. I wouldn’t want to risk that!
Moses Wright dunks in front of Chimezie Metu!😤 @Olympiacos_BC #FlightTime pic.twitter.com/AOxKcLTogG
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague)
As the game progressed, Barcelona seemed to have some big problems; they were like a child trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions. OLY scooped up offensive rebounds like they were in a clearance sale, building a double-digit lead by halftime. And I don’t know about you, but halftime is when I usually grab a snack—clearly, that’s when the Catalans decided to do some serious cramming for their exam, but it didn’t go so well!
In the second half, it seemed like S. Vezenkov decided to be MVP for the night, starting the decisive quarter with five points as if he was announcing a royal decree: “Let the thrashing commence!” But alas, the Catalans made a gallant effort to close the gap, only to see the last few minutes become nothing more than a formality… like the end of a wedding that everyone is just waiting to escape from.
Speaking of MVPs, let’s give it up for S. Vezenkovas, who tallied 18 points and demonstrated all the finesse of a ballet dancer on steroids: 4/6 from the field, 7/7 from the penalty line, plus a few more stats that I’m convinced even had their own fan club! As for the Olympiacos lineup, let’s just say they had more contributors than a public charity! Evan Fournier, Saša Vezenkov, and Nikola Milutinov were all playing like they were auditioning for the NBA All-Star Game.
The Road Ahead
With this loss, Barcelona has left the door wide open for Kaunas “Žalgiris” to become the undisputed leaders of the Euroleague. All they need to do is triumph against AS Monaco at home—and if they accomplish that while rocking the storm, they might as well start polishing those trophies! If you’re in the arena, bring a bucket; you’ll need it for all the excitement—or for when things go belly-up!
This is a classic case of “what’s the worst that can happen?” If you’re Kaunas, it’s almost everything! But the boys seem ready—the kind of ready where they’ve left the house with mismatched socks and a confident swagger, convinced they’re going to win. Well, here’s hoping their socks stay on for a great game! Until then, let’s sit back and enjoy how this melodrama unfolds in the Euroleague… because who doesn’t love a little drama over some basketball?
Dancer on the court, gracefully mixing power with precision. His performance was a sight to behold, and with a stat line that included 4/6 from the field, 7/7 from the free-throw line, and a total of 27 utility points in just 24 minutes, it’s safe to say he wasn’t just participating; he was running the show!
But let’s not forget the heavyweights on both teams. Olympiacos displayed a balanced attack with Evan Fournier leading the way with 19 points, while Tyler Dorsey and Nikola Milutinov tossed in solid contributions of 12 and 8 rebounds respectively. Shaquielle McKissic also made his mark with 10 points, solidifying the depth of the Olympiacos roster.
On the Barcelona side, Kevin Punter did his best to keep the ship afloat with 18 points, and Chimezie Metu added 12 points of his own. However, their efforts were insufficient against an Olympiacos team that seemed to have all the answers on the night.
As we look forward to the next matchup, Euroleague enthusiasts have their eyes set on Kaunas. If Žalgiris can clinch a win against AS Monaco, they would not only capitalize on the struggles of their rivals but also take the top spot in the Euroleague standings with an impressive six wins. Is it too early to start crafting their championship parade route? Perhaps… but in sports, every victory counts, and the battle for supremacy is always fierce!
So, keep those eyes peeled, folks. With the Euroleague season heating up and the potential for upsets, you won’t want to miss a moment of the action. And who knows? Perhaps we’ll get more iconic plays, nail-biting finishes, and, of course, more of that delicious drama that keeps us coming back for more. Let the games continue!
In the immortal words of the game, ”On to the next one!”
