Published on January 2, 2026 at 09:15 PM by driblio.net
Date
2026-01-02
Venue
Round
Round 19
Attendance
18999
In one of European basketball's most heated rivalries, Olympiacos Piraeus emerged victorious over Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens with an 87-82 triumph in Round 19 of the EuroLeague season. The clash, held before 18,999 passionate fans, showcased the intensity and drama that has defined this historic Greek derby for decades. Olympiacos' road win extended their impressive form, marking their third consecutive victory and demonstrating their championship credentials on enemy territory.
The visiting Reds controlled the game from the opening tip, racing to a commanding 28-13 lead after the first quarter. This early dominance set the tone for the evening, as Olympiacos executed their game plan with precision and defensive intensity. Despite Panathinaikos' valiant efforts to claw back into the contest throughout the remaining three quarters, the early deficit proved too substantial to overcome.
Sasha Vezenkov delivered a masterclass performance for the visitors, recording an outstanding efficiency rating of 25 with 24 points and nine rebounds. The Bulgarian forward showcased his versatility, hitting 4-of-8 from beyond the arc while also demonstrating his ability to score inside with a 4-of-7 performance on two-point attempts. His all-around contribution included drawing fouls effectively and maintaining composure in crucial moments throughout the 40-minute battle.
Tyler Dorsey complemented Vezenkov's efforts brilliantly, contributing 21 points while playing the entire game. The American guard's efficiency rating of 23 reflected his complete performance, which included four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Dorsey proved lethal from the free-throw line, converting all four of his attempts, and his plus-minus of +20 demonstrated his positive impact whenever he was on the court. His ability to create his own shot and make plays for teammates proved crucial in maintaining Olympiacos' advantage during Panathinaikos' comeback attempts.
Nikola Milutinov produced arguably the most efficient performance of the night, recording a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the field while adding 10 points and nine rebounds. The Serbian center's efficiency rating of 27 was team-high, and his plus-minus of +19 highlighted his dominance in the paint. Milutinov's three assists demonstrated his excellent vision and passing ability, while his defensive presence with one steal and one block disrupted Panathinaikos' interior game throughout the contest.
The center's ability to secure nine rebounds, including four on the offensive glass, provided Olympiacos with crucial second-chance opportunities. His perfect shooting night showcased his excellent positioning and finishing ability around the basket. Milutinov also drew four fouls without committing any himself, demonstrating his disciplined approach and intelligent play that has made him one of the EuroLeague's premier big men.
Despite the defeat, Kendrick Nunn delivered an extraordinary individual performance for the home side. The American guard exploded for 32 points on an efficient 11-of-17 shooting display, including a perfect 8-of-8 from two-point range. His efficiency rating of 40 was the game's highest, and he added six assists, five rebounds, and two steals to his impressive stat line. Nunn's ability to penetrate the defense and finish at the rim was spectacular, though his efforts ultimately proved insufficient to overcome Olympiacos' balanced attack.
Nunn's performance from the charity stripe was equally impressive, converting all seven of his free-throw attempts. His plus-minus of zero indicated that Panathinaikos held their own when he was on the floor, but the supporting cast struggled to provide enough offensive firepower. The guard played nearly the entire game, logging 35 minutes and 50 seconds, and his ability to create scoring opportunities both for himself and his teammates kept Panathinaikos within striking distance throughout the second half.
After their disastrous first quarter, Panathinaikos showed tremendous character by winning the second period 30-15. This 15-point swing cut Olympiacos' lead to just 43-43 at halftime, completely erasing what had seemed like an insurmountable deficit. Cedi Osman contributed 13 points for the Greens, while Nikolaos Rogkavopoulos provided a valuable spark off the bench with 10 points on efficient 4-of-8 shooting.
However, Panathinaikos could not maintain their momentum in the second half. The third quarter ended 18-18, and Olympiacos pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the hosts 26-21. Kostas Sloukas, the experienced point guard, tried to orchestrate the offense with two assists but struggled with his shooting, converting just 1-of-7 from the field. His presence on the court, however, was crucial, as evidenced by his plus-minus of +13.
Kostas Papanikolaou provided steady contributions for Olympiacos with eight points and two assists, maintaining a plus-minus of +19 in his 18 minutes of action. Thomas Walkup orchestrated the offense effectively with five assists while adding three points and four rebounds. His plus-minus of +10 reflected his positive impact on both ends of the floor, and his leadership helped guide Olympiacos through difficult stretches when Panathinaikos threatened to take control.
Donta Hall came off the bench to provide crucial energy for Olympiacos, recording eight points, seven rebounds, and two blocks in just 14 minutes. His efficiency rating of 17 demonstrated his impact during his time on the court. Meanwhile, Monte Morris added eight points and three assists as another valuable reserve contributor, though his minus-7 plus-minus indicated he was on the floor during one of Panathinaikos' more successful runs.
The game was characterized by physical defense and intense competition on both ends of the floor. Both teams committed numerous fouls, with the referees calling the game tightly throughout. Evan Fournier struggled to find his rhythm for Olympiacos, managing just two points on 0-of-5 shooting, though he did contribute three assists and drew four fouls. His minus-12 plus-minus was concerning, but his willingness to make the extra pass and create opportunities for teammates demonstrated his team-first mentality.
For Panathinaikos, Kenneth Faried provided solid interior play with nine points and five rebounds in his starting role, but his minus-21 plus-minus revealed the struggles the team faced when he was on the court. Konstantinos Mitoglou had a particularly difficult evening, failing to score in his limited minutes and finishing with a minus-7 plus-minus and four fouls.
This victory extended Olympiacos' winning streak to three games, following impressive wins over Virtus Bologna and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. The road victory in such a hostile environment demonstrated the team's mental toughness and championship pedigree. Coach's strategy of establishing dominance early proved effective, as the first-quarter explosion provided a cushion that survived multiple comeback attempts.
For Panathinaikos, the defeat was a setback despite their recent run of three consecutive victories over Zalgiris Kaunas, Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv, and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. The Greens showed resilience in erasing a 15-point deficit but could not complete the comeback on their home floor. Jerian Grant provided valuable minutes off the bench with seven points on efficient shooting, including 2-of-2 from three-point range, and his plus-minus of minus-2 suggested he helped stabilize the team during his time on court.
The derby victory showcased Olympiacos' depth and balanced scoring attack, with four players reaching double figures. Their ability to withstand Panathinaikos' second-quarter surge and maintain composure in a hostile environment speaks volumes about their championship aspirations. The combination of Vezenkov's scoring, Dorsey's playmaking, and Milutinov's interior dominance provides coach with multiple weapons to deploy in crucial situations.
Panathinaikos, despite the loss, can take encouragement from Nunn's spectacular performance and their ability to fight back from a significant deficit. The team's second-quarter performance demonstrated their offensive capabilities when executing properly. However, the slow start proved costly, and they will need to address their defensive issues that allowed Olympiacos to dominate the opening quarter so thoroughly. The rivalry continues to produce memorable encounters, and both teams will undoubtedly meet again with playoff implications on the line as the EuroLeague season progresses toward its decisive stages.
| Rank | Player | Team | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KENDRICK NUNN | PAO | 32 | 5 | 6 |
| 2 | SASHA VEZENKOV | OLY | 24 | 9 | 1 |
| 3 | TYLER DORSEY | OLY | 21 | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | CEDI OSMAN | PAO | 13 | 3 | 2 |
| 5 | NIKOLA MILUTINOV | OLY | 10 | 9 | 3 |
Panathinaikos defeated Zalgiris Kaunas 92-88 in Round 31 EuroLeague action. Cedi Osman led with 24 points on perfect 7-of-7 shooting, while Kendrick Nunn added 22 points. Sylvain Francisco scored 23 points for Zalgiris in defeat. The home team controlled key moments despite persistent pressure from the visitors.
Published on March 12, 2026 at 10:17 PM by driblio.net
AS Monaco defeated Olympiacos Piraeus 81-80 in a thrilling EuroLeague Round 31 clash at Salle Gaston Médecin. Matthew Strazel's two-pointer with four seconds remaining secured victory for Monaco after Olympiacos had erased an early deficit. Jaron Blossomgame shot perfectly (6-6) for Monaco while Nikola Milutinov recorded a double-double for the visitors.
Published on March 12, 2026 at 08:09 PM by driblio.net
Olympiacos Piraeus defeated Paris Basketball 104-87 in a dominant road performance. Tyler Dorsey led all scorers with 24 points while Alec Peters added 18. Evan Fournier contributed 17 points against his former country. Justin Robinson paced Paris with 18 points and nine assists, but the hosts couldn't overcome Olympiacos' balanced attack and superior execution.
Published on March 10, 2026 at 05:46 PM by driblio.net
