Olympiakos overcomes Aris obstacle

Olympiakos emerged unscathed from its biggest challenge left until the end of the Basket League’s regular season, beating Aris in Thessaloniki, while a three-way tie at the relegation zone points to a dramatic finish regarding the team that will follow Kavala to the A2 division.

Table-topping Reds defeated their host in Thessaloniki with a 74-70 score on Monday, despite the injury to Othello Hunter at the start of the game. With two games left, Olympiakos is near certain to clinch the advantage for the play-offs.

Second-placed Panathinaikos trailed by seven (52-45) before scoring 16 unanswered points to beat Kavala 82-76 away on Sunday.

AEK thrashed visiting Kolossos Rhodes 92-57, but is one point behind Aris and lags in the head-to-head record with its rival for the third spot.

Arkadikos produced the biggest win of the weekend defeating neighboring Korivos 61-60 in a nailbiting game at Amaliada. The two teams, along with Trikala that lost 88-79 at home to PAOK, are tied on 31 points, with one of them set to go down.

Lavrio is as good as safe on 33 points after seeing off Apollon Patras 80-64, while fifth Kifisia put 100 past Rethymno (100-88).