AEK B.C. secured a hard-fought 87–81 victory over arch‑rivals Aris B.C. in a thrilling Greek Basket League encounter on May 15, 2026. The win strengthened AEK’s position in the upper half of the standings as the regular season approached its climax.

Match Overview

Played at the packed O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens, the contest lived up to its fierce rivalry billing. AEK started with high intensity, building an early double‑digit lead behind sharp perimeter shooting. Aris, however, refused to fold, chipping away methodically in the second quarter to trim the deficit to just four points at halftime.

Key Moments

The third quarter proved decisive. AEK’s defense tightened, forcing several turnovers that turned into fast‑break points. A 10‑2 run early in the period pushed the lead back to 14, and despite a late Aris rally in the fourth, the hosts managed the clock effectively to seal the win.

• First half dominance: AEK shot 52% from the field and connected on 6 of 11 three‑point attempts.
• Aris fightback: A 9‑0 run early in the fourth quarter cut the gap to 78–75 with 4:30 remaining.
• Clutch free‑throw shooting: AEK converted 10 of 12 from the stripe in the final three minutes to ice the game.

Standout Players

For AEK, the backcourt duo was instrumental: the veteran point guard finished with 22 points and 7 assists, while the shooting guard added 18 points, including four three‑pointers. Aris was led by their star forward, who posted a game‑high 24 points and 9 rebounds, but received insufficient support from his teammates in the decisive stretches.

Season Impact

The victory improved AEK’s record to 16–8, keeping them in contention for a top‑four finish and home‑court advantage in the playoffs. Aris dropped to 13–11, still in the playoff picture but needing to regain consistency to avoid a first‑round matchup against one of the league’s powerhouses.