He survived the “thriller” and took a breath PAOK!
The “double-header of the north” won with a score of 66-65 Laurel in overtime and returned to positive results after 3 consecutive defeats in Stoiximan Basket Leaguerising to 7-8 and surpassing her AEK Betsson for the 6th place in the ranking!
Although he took a double-digit difference (32-20) from the first half, his total Foti Takianou flirted with another defeat as he allowed the visitors to come back and gave them plenty of chances to get the pink card. Nevertheless, the Laurel he didn’t make it, with his best in the match Xavier Castanieda to make strides in the final overtime attack.
For the winners, he stood out Justin Alston with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while 15 points were scored by Andrew Harrison11 o Laurinas Beliauskas and 8 along with 12 rebounds o Jamuni McNish. For the losers, who fell to 4-11, o Chestnut tallied 18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists.
The match
The two teams entered the match at a very poor pace, with the score remaining very low in the first minutes as well Flaten and Harrison to give the few solutions from afar (5-3). Beliauskas with his own long shot made it 10-5, while Thornton answered him for 10-8. Alston scored with a hook and Beliauskas with shots to make it 14-8, while Thornton down to 14-10 in a spectacular first quarter.
In the second quarter, PAOK started revving up a bit. With Tsaireli and Alston, the difference in his favor rose for the first time to +7 (21-14). Lavrio has a reaction and got close to 4 again with his three-pointer Chestnut (23-19), but o Harrison gave a new solution from a distance for 28-20. He and McNish scored 4 more consecutive points and PAOK closed the first half with a 32-20 lead.
The situation changed rapidly in the third quarter. The Laurel tightened his defenses and blocked completely the hosts, starting his bid to get back into the match. THE Thornton dropped the difference to single digits with a three-pointer (32-25), while Moore brought the total of Kosta Mexa even closer with a foul goal (32-28). PAOK was unable to find offensive solutions and Ladybug reduced to a basket (32-30), while a little later the visitors equalized thanks to two shots by Castaniedas. Beliauskas gave a solution with a three-pointer to the “two-headed one of the north”, however Chestnut and Gromovs completed the overthrow of Lavrio for 40-42 in the third period.
With the beginning of the last quarter, o Zaras put Lavrio ahead for the first time with +5 thanks to a three-pointer (40-45). Somewhere there, it was PAOK’s turn to play excellent defense. Thessalonians ran to a pivotal point a partial score of 7-0 thanks to Alston, Tsiakma and Margariti, taking the lead again with a score of 50-47 and keeping the guests scoreless for a while. Alston also shot from 6.75m. for 53-47, but the whole of Mexa reacted with consecutive three-pointers by Muratou and Zara for 53-53. Alston went to the shots and made one for 54-53 at a crucial point, while Thornton responded with 1/2 of his own and the match went to overtime with a score of 54-54.
In the extra five minutes, o Muratos with a big three-pointer he put the visitors in front again (55-57), while o Chestnut answered his equaliser Alston for 57-59. Elvar Fridriksson gave PAOK the lead (60-59), while Castanieda continued his… violin and brought it back to Lavrio (62-63). Harrison hit a key layup and Fridrickson two shots for the “doubleheader of the north” 66-63. Castanieda scored two shots and reduced, while he had a chance to give the victory to Lavrio, but he took steps in the last attack and PAOK got the victory.
The quarters: 14-10, 32-20, 40-42, 54-54 (cit.), 66-65 (para.)
Detailed match statistics here
Source: Sport Fm
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