Olympiacos returned to winning ways in the EuroLeague with an emphatic 89-66 victory over Turkish basketball club Anadolu Efes at the SUNEL Arena, improving their record to 3-1 after a setback in Bologna.
Georgios Bartzokas’ side laid the foundations for victory in the third quarter, when a dominant spell and eight quick points from Cody Miller-McIntyre turned a four-point half-time lead into an 18-point advantage at 54-36.
Olympiacos also delivered a stronger defensive performance after showing weaknesses in their first three games of the season. The Greek side collected 49 rebounds, including 21 offensive and 28 defensive, compared with Efes’ 31 rebounds, comprising eight offensive and 23 defensive.
Olympiacos recorded 23 assists against 13 turnovers, while the Istanbul side managed 16 assists and committed 17 turnovers.
Despite struggling from beyond the arc, making just eight of 29 three-point attempts, Olympiacos controlled the contest after the break. Anadolu Efes, who recently lost Mike James to a serious injury, fell to 1-3.
The second quarter proved Olympiacos’ only difficult period, as Bartzokas’ players scored just nine points while Efes added 15. However, teamwork, defensive pressure and balanced scoring helped the hosts secure a comfortable victory without relying on a single standout performer.
Montero Leads the Way in the Fourth Quarter
Jean Montero emerged as a key scorer in the final quarter, producing an impressive finish after struggling earlier in the game.
The Dominican point guard had scored just four points by the end of the third quarter but finished with 16, scoring 12 points, including two three-pointers, in the final 10 minutes.
Tyrique Jones finished with 11 points, six rebounds and two assists. Sasha Vezenkov and Tyson Ward scored nine points each, while the athletic Mbaye Ndiaye also contributed nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal.
One of the game’s highlights came when Ndiaye delivered a spectacular assist to Jones, who completed the play with a powerful dunk.
Kostas Papanikolaou and Miller-McIntyre each scored eight points, while Nikola Milutinov collected nine rebounds. Evan Fournier contributed seven points and six assists.
For Anadolu Efes, Cameron Payne led the scoring with 12 points, followed by PJ Dozier with 11 and Jordan Loyd with 10.
Before tip-off, Vezenkov received the One Team Ambassador award from young Amelia.
Quarter-by-quarter scores: 26-16, 35-31, 62-49, 89-66.
Olympiacos Establish Early Control
Olympiacos started with Miller-McIntyre, Fournier, Ward, Vezenkov and Jones. Vezenkov, last season’s EuroLeague MVP, opened the scoring with a three-pointer, and contributions from Ward and Jones helped the hosts move ahead 7-3.
Efes responded with three early three-pointers, including two from Dozier, to level the score at 9-9. However, Pablo Laso’s team failed to make another three-pointer for the remainder of the first quarter, allowing Olympiacos to seize control.
The hosts dominated the rebounds 14-6, including 9-4 on the defensive glass. Vezenkov scored seven points, Ward added six, Jones contributed five and Fournier four as Olympiacos built a 26-16 lead after 10 minutes, shooting seven of nine on two-point attempts.
Efes entered the second quarter with greater energy and disrupted Olympiacos at both ends of the court. Led by Osmani and Malcolm, the Turkish side cut the deficit to 28-25.
Papanikolaou responded with a three-pointer to make it 31-25, but a three-pointer from Santi Yusta and a basket from Daron Russell brought Efes within one at 31-30.
Cory Joseph entered the game and scored immediately, while Jones converted both free throws to help Olympiacos take a 35-31 lead into half-time.
The Greek side struggled offensively in the second quarter, shooting three of 18 from three-point range and recording eight assists against nine turnovers in the first half. Vezenkov and Jones had seven points each, while Efes’ Strazel scored seven and Dozier and Osmani added six apiece.
Miller-McIntyre Sparks the Decisive Third Quarter
Bartzokas restored Miller-McIntyre, Fournier, Ward, Vezenkov and Milutinov to start the third quarter, and the American guard immediately took control.
Miller-McIntyre repeatedly penetrated the Efes defence to score eight quick points. A Fournier three-pointer and the Frenchman’s assist to Milutinov helped Olympiacos produce a 19-5 run from the half-time score of 35-31 to move 54-36 ahead.
Jordan Loyd briefly stopped the momentum with a three-pointer, before Montero replaced Miller-McIntyre and Efes mounted a response.
Payne scored eight quick points to help the visitors reduce the deficit to 58-49. Ndiaye then gave Vezenkov a rest, while contributions from Dorsey and Montero helped Olympiacos maintain control at 62-49.
Olympiacos dominated the quarter 27-18 and recorded seven assists against just one turnover.
Olympiacos Seal the Victory
Montero, Dorsey, Papanikolaou, Ndiaye and Jones started the fourth quarter for Olympiacos.
Papanikolaou reached eight points with two three-pointers, while Ndiaye received an assist from Jones and finished with a dunk. Dorsey also produced a steal and a fast-break dunk to extend the lead to 68-53.
Russell answered with a three-pointer, and Yusta cut the deficit to 68-58 with 5:50 remaining.
Ndiaye responded with a three-pointer to halt Efes’ attempt to close the gap. Moments later, he delivered his spectacular assist to Jones, who dunked to make it 73-58.
Montero then took centre stage, adding 12 points in the final quarter to finish with 16 and help Olympiacos close out the 89-66 victory.
Team Line-ups and Scorers
Olympiacos (Georgios Bartzokas): Miller-McIntyre 8, Ward 9, Montero 16 (2 three-pointers), Vezenkov 9 (1), Papanikolaou 8 (2), Dorsey 4, Ndiaye 9 (1), Milutinov 4, Joseph 2, Dunston 2, Jones 11, Fournier 7 (2).
Anadolu Efes (Pablo Laso): Loyd 10 (2), Yusta 8 (1), Saric 1, Russell 5 (1), Dozier 11 (3), Malcolm 6, Fernando, Payne 12 (3), Osmani 6 (1), Strazel 7 (1), Jones.
Referees: Lottermoser (Germany), Rossi (Italy) and Sisi (Albania).
