Olympiacos Piraeus B.C. secured a valuable 102-97 EuroLeague road win over Valencia Basket at Roig Arena, surviving a spirited home challenge and pulling away in the closing minutes of a high-level regular-season matchup. In a game that featured 11 lead changes and eight ties, Olympiacos’ late execution from the perimeter and at the free-throw line made the difference as Valencia pushed the visitors until the final possession.

The result gives Olympiacos an important early-season victory in the 2026-27 EuroLeague standings, while Valencia are left to rue a strong offensive night that was undone by a few costly defensive lapses in the fourth quarter. The 102-97 final score reflects how competitive the contest was, but Olympiacos’ ability to score in transition and punish Valencia’s switches proved decisive.

Match Overview

Valencia started with energy in front of their home crowd, moving the ball quickly and attacking the rim through Jean Montero and Brandon Davies. Olympiacos absorbed the early pressure and answered with perimeter shooting, building a narrow 27-24 lead after the first quarter. Valencia responded in the second period, using a 26-24 advantage to trim the halftime deficit to a single point, 51-50 in Olympiacos’ favor.

The third quarter was where Olympiacos created separation. A 14-4 run midway through the period, fueled by Sasha Vezenkov’s off-ball movement and Evan Fournier’s shot creation, pushed the visitors ahead 79-73 going into the final ten minutes. Valencia refused to fade, cutting the lead to 95-93 with under three minutes remaining, but Olympiacos closed the game with a composed 7-4 finish.

• First quarter: Valencia 24-27 Olympiacos
• Second quarter: Valencia 26-24 Olympiacos
• Third quarter: Valencia 23-28 Olympiacos
• Fourth quarter: Valencia 24-23 Olympiacos
• Final score: Valencia 97-102 Olympiacos

Key Moments

Valencia’s best stretch came early in the fourth quarter when Montero hit back-to-back triples and Semi Ojeleye converted a tough and-one to bring the crowd to its feet. That surge made it 88-86 and forced Olympiacos to call timeout. Out of the break, Fournier drilled a contested three from the wing, and Thomas Walkup stripped the ball from Valencia’s ball handler on the next possession, leading to an easy transition basket for Moustapha Fall.

The decisive sequence arrived with 1:42 left. After Valencia had clawed within two, Olympiacos ran a high pick-and-roll that forced a switch, then found Vezenkov in the short corner for a mid-range jumper. On the following trip, Walkup drew a foul and made both free throws, pushing the lead to 99-93. Valencia had one last chance to make it a one-possession game, but a rushed three-pointer rimmed out, and Olympiacos sealed the result at the line.

Standout Players

Sasha Vezenkov led Olympiacos with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, shooting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. His ability to stretch Valencia’s defense without dominating the ball was central to Olympiacos’ half-court efficiency. Evan Fournier added 19 points and 5 assists, while Thomas Walkup controlled the tempo with 12 points, 9 assists and 3 steals. Inside, Moustapha Fall contributed 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks, and Nikola Milutinov added 10 points and 7 rebounds off the bench.

For Valencia, Jean Montero was the standout with 23 points and 6 assists, repeatedly breaking down Olympiacos’ defense with his speed. Semi Ojeleye finished with 18 points and 5 rebounds, Brandon Davies had 15 points and 7 rebounds, and Chris Jones added 12 points. Jaime Pradilla gave valuable minutes with 9 points and 6 rebounds, but Valencia’s frontcourt struggled to contain Olympiacos’ size for long stretches.

Tactical Story

Olympiacos’ defensive plan centered on slowing Montero. Walkup took the primary assignment, fighting over screens and forcing Valencia’s guards into contested pull-ups rather than clean drives. When Valencia tried to counter with small-ball lineups, Olympiacos punished them on the glass and through Fall’s rim running. The visitors also switched aggressively on the perimeter, trusting their big men to recover in time.

Valencia’s offense was at its best when Davies operated from the elbow and Montero attacked in transition. They shot 10-of-30 from three-point range and 15-of-19 from the free-throw line, respectable numbers, but Olympiacos held a 13-10 edge from deep and a 21-15 advantage in made free throws. Olympiacos also won the rebound battle 36-31 and dished out 24 assists to Valencia’s 19, underlining their extra ball