Olympiacos Piraeus was the first team to qualify to the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, edging Zalgiris Kaunas 72-74 in Round 29. The Reds were without star guard Kostas Sloukas, but Shaquielle McKissic was ready to take over.
Sloukas did not travel with the Reds, but he sent some sound advice with his teammate, as McKissic revealed right after the game.
"I was thinking pretty much, 'What would Sloukas tell me?' He told me to be aggressive, so that's all I wanted to do," McKissic said.
Zalgiris had a strong start and led 29-23 midway through the second quarter. McKissic provided answers for Olympiacos on offense, scoring 12 points in 4 minutes to put the Reds in charge, 34-40, at halftime.
