Panathinaikos overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Maccabi Tel Aviv 91-87 in the first game of their EuroLeague quarterfinal series. Bonzie Colson led the way with 18 points, while Lorenzo Brown added 16 and Wade Baldwin contributed 15 before leaving with an injury. Kostas Sloukas scored 12 points and Jerian Grant had 11 for Panathinaikos. Josh Nebo hit two crucial free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory for Maccabi.
Barcelona coach Roger Grimau has expressed his confidence in his team’s ability to overcome Olympiacos in the upcoming Euroleague playoff series. Grimau highlighted the importance of home-court advantage, emphasizing the support of the fans at the Palau Blaugrana.
FC Barcelona center Willy Hernangómez anticipates a challenging Euroleague quarter-final matchup against Olympiacos. Emphasizing the home court advantage at Palau Blaugrana, he acknowledged Olympiacos’ physicality and aggressive style. While Barcelona holds regular season victories against Olympiacos, Hernangómez dismissed complacency, recognizing Olympiacos’ current strength. He highlighted their preference for static offense, contrasting Barcelona’s more dynamic approach. To counteract, Hernangómez emphasizes utilizing Barcelona’s strengths. The center consulted with his brother Juancho for insights on the opponent, expressing excitement for the high-stakes games and his readiness to contribute to his team’s success.
Olympiacos duo Thomas Walkup and Kostas Papanikolaou are in doubt for their Euroleague playoff opener against Barcelona tomorrow. Walkup missed practice yesterday with back pain, while Papanikolaou is ill with a virus. Walkup has been a regular starter for Olympiacos in Euroleague play, while Papanikolaou has started 29 of 34 games.
Barcelona power forward Oscar Da Silva has set his sights on capturing the Euroleague title and fostering team unity. He aims to complement the star-studded lineup by seamlessly integrating his skills on both ends of the court. Despite facing a slightly altered Olympiacos squad, Da Silva remains confident in Barcelona’s abilities and acknowledges the home-court advantage as a significant factor.
