PAOK managed to defeat Benfica at home with a score of 76-74, maintaining their position at the top of the table.
A thrilling match unfolded in Greece in game of FIBA Champions League. PAOK entered the game as the absolute favorite, but after just 10 minutes, it was clear that an easy task was not ahead. Thanks to excellent defense, Benfica gained an eight-point lead after the first quarter. However, led by Laurynas Beliauskas, the host managed to come back and take a one-point lead at halftime.
The third quarter confirmed that we were in for an uncertain finish, with a seesaw battle and numerous lead changes. The same scenario continued until the end, where Kendall Smith played the role of hero. The American scored four crucial points in the final moments, and Lithuanian Beliauskas sealed the game with two successful free throws with 17 seconds left.
Beliauskas led PAOK with 20 points, while Michalis Tsairelis contributed 15. On the other side, Aaron Broussard stood out with 20 points.
Unlike the challenging match in Greece, Hapoel Holon convincingly defeated Bursaspor with a score of 74-93.
Despite the score suggesting otherwise, we witnessed an exceptionally interesting game in the first three quarters. The home team, led by Anthony Brown, played remarkably well in the first half, even holding a three-point lead after 20 minutes of play, thanks to the American’s performance.
However, there was a noticeable energy drop in the third quarter. Hapoel patiently waited for their chance, which came in the final quarter. They allowed the hosts to score only 12 points while putting up an impressive 29 points themselves. This was enough for a final lead of 19 points on the scoreboard after 40 minutes of play.
C.J. Harris was the top scorer for the winning team with 25 points, while Justin Smith added 17. As for the hosts, Brown contributed 22 points.