EuroLeague: Olympiacos Defeats ASVEL to Claim Top Spot (74-82)

VILLEURBANNE — Olympiacos defeated ASVEL 74-82 in EuroLeague action, securing an important road victory that moves them to the top of the standings with a 23-12 record, tied with Fenerbahce but holding the head-to-head tiebreaker after 35 games.

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The Piraeus squad started the game with a solid approach on both ends of the floor. Sasha Vezenkov set the offensive pace for Olympiacos from the opening minutes, while the Greek team looked to impose their physicality near the basket. ASVEL, buoyed by their home crowd in Villeurbanne, responded with scoring from Melvin Ajinca and the playmaking of Thomas Heurtel, keeping the contest competitive throughout much of the first quarter.

As the game progressed, Olympiacos found greater offensive fluidity in this EuroLeague matchday. The interior contributions of Donta Hall and Nikola Milutinov allowed the Greek squad to control the glass and generate second-chance opportunities, while Tyler Dorsey added important points from beyond the arc.

The decisive moment came in the second half, when Olympiacos managed to open a small gap on the scoreboard thanks to Vezenkov's accuracy and the collective solidity of the visiting team. Although ASVEL tried to mount a comeback with points from Ajinca and Brian Angola, the French squad could not close the gap down the stretch.

On an individual level, Sasha Vezenkov led Olympiacos to victory with 23 points and 7 rebounds, while Donta Hall contributed 14 points and 6 rebounds. Tyler Dorsey added 13 points, and Nikola Milutinov came close to a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. For ASVEL, Melvin Ajinca was the leading scorer with 17 points, followed by Brian Angola with 14, while Thomas Heurtel fell just short of a double-double with 8 points and 9 assists.

With this EuroLeague victory, Olympiacos reaches first place in the standings with a 23-12 record, tied with Fenerbahce but holding the head-to-head tiebreaker. Meanwhile, ASVEL continues fighting to improve their position in the final stretch of the regular season.