Baskonia started hot and led by eight with four near-consecutive three-pointers. It lasted seven minutes. Olympiacos turned the first quarter around and won convincingly in Vitoria: 89-106, with Sasha Vezenkov and Tyler Dorsey combining for 47 points.
A Promising Start
The opening belonged to the home team. With excellent shooting from beyond the arc and four three-pointers in quick succession, Baskonia posted a 14-6 lead that forced Georgios Bartzokas to call an immediate timeout.
Three three-pointers from Tadas Sedekerskis maintained the advantage, but Vezenkov and Dorsey appeared on the other end to keep the Greeks afloat against Vitoria's three-point barrage.
The First Turn
Dorsey tied the game with five consecutive points, capitalizing on defensive lapses from the home team that led to easy baskets. Olympiacos never stopped scoring and closed the first quarter with a 3-10 run that flipped the scoreboard: 29-36.
During that stretch, another factor emerged that would condition the rest of the game: offensive rebounding. The visitors' greater size proved to be a constant advantage.
Montero Joins In
Baskonia found ways through pace, with AJ Lawson as a cutting threat, and managed to cut into the deficit. But then Jean Montero entered the scene to join the Greek scoring duo, and halftime arrived at 46-56.
After the break, the back-and-forth exchanges consistently favored the visitors, who kept building their lead through individual talent. Dorsey and Vezenkov continued to punish, and Paolo Galbiati tried to change the rhythm with a zone defense, to no avail: the gap exceeded twenty points (60-81).
The Numbers
Dorsey finished with 25 points and Vezenkov with 22. They were joined by Jones with 12, Montero with 15 in his official debut with the club, and Tyson Ward with 11.
For Baskonia, AJ Lawson was the leading scorer with 20 points, followed by Sedekerskis with 15, Chris Duarte and Markus Howard with 9 each.