The Greek squad, set to face Bilbao Basket in the FIBA Europe Cup final, has been sharpening its game by competing in Thessaloniki city derbies. These encounters have proven highly favorable, keeping them alive in the battle for third place in their domestic competition against AEK Athens.
Last Wednesday, PAOK secured a home victory (88-77) against Aris in a postponed match. On Saturday, they overcame Iraklis away with a final score of 72-76. This latter contest remained balanced until halftime, but the team led by Pantelis Boutskos took control in the third quarter with a dominant 8-22 run, establishing a lead that their opponent could not overcome, despite narrowing the gap in the final moments.
Despite conceding 20 points from second-chance opportunities after allowing numerous offensive rebounds, the individual quality of PAOK's players proved decisive. Their excellent 74% (20 of 27) shooting from two-point range was also a highlight. Breein Tyree once again led the team in scoring with 25 points, converting 10 of his 19 field goal attempts.
In addition to the shooting guard, three other players under Boutskos finished with double-digit scoring. Tomas Dimsa added 12 points, with an impressive 4 of 8 from beyond the arc; Cleveland Melvin contributed 11 points, despite struggling from the 6.75-meter line (1 of 7); and Ben Moore chipped in 10 points, also leading the team in rebounds with a total of eight boards.
“"Our players deserve a lot of congratulations. In the first half, we lacked energy, with Iraklis dominating the rebounds. However, we made some adjustments in our defense and achieved a very important victory on a difficult court. I am very proud of the atmosphere in the team. It is very important for the players to stay focused on the immediate game when there are such important appointments that can capture their attention. Great mental strength is needed to continue winning with such a demanding schedule. It is fundamental that we have remained focused and united during this time."
