Regular Season
Round 23 of 34
Regular Season
Olympiacos PiraeusOLY
7670
Anadolu Efes IstanbulEFS
Overview
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Reds' Michalis Lountzis filled the shoes of Sloukas
Article
3 Mins read
It’s fair to say that Michalis Lountzis has not exactly been a fundamental part of Olympiacos Piraeus’s title challenge so far this season…until, that is, a monster performance from the 24 year-old guard in Friday night’s 76-70 victory over Anadolu Efes Istanbul.
Heading into the game at the Peace and Friendshjp Stadium, Lountzis was averaging 1.1 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game, with 6:23 playing time and a PIR of 1.8. His season high was 4 points, achieved against Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 12, and five of his 10 appearances resulted in 0 points scored.
That was in large part because Lountzis was not really needed, acting as the fifth guard in Olympiacos’s rotation behind Thomas Walkup, Isaiah Canaan, Kostas Sloukas and Giannoulis Larentzkis. But injury to Sloukas meant that Lountzis was given an enhanced role for the visit of Efes, and he stepped up magnificently.
He smashed his previous career high of 5 points by netting 13 with great efficiency, making 2 of 3 two-point attempts and all 3 of his triples. Three of those baskets came in a key phase midway through the second quarter, allowing Olympiacos to take control of the game that would never really be lost despite a spirited Efes attempt to comeback in the final quarter.
Lountzis wasn’t only notable for his offense – he also did a great job on the defensive end by grabbing 7 rebounds and 2 steals, carrying out the far-from-straightforward task of guarding Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micic with non-stop energy and commitment, consequently limiting Efes’s danger men to 10 points apiece.
Lountzis’s teammates certainly appreciated his efforts, with top scorer Sasha Vezenkov using his post-game TV interview to laud just one man: "I will not talk about myself or the game," Vezenkov said. "I will talk about Mike Lountzis, what he did today and what he’s doing lately to step into the shoes of, for me, the best pure point guard in Europe right now.
“To go and play the minutes of Kostas Sloukas is really tough, but he’s always ready and I think this is the most important thing for the victory. When your 12th player, let’s say, is ready to play the game, I think that’s the most important thing.”
And with Lountzis playing like this, Sloukas can recover from injury safe in the knowledge that his understudy is making all the right moves.
Game Videos
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/f1af31c4-10a0-427c-8dcb-f0a5a50880a2.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | 3rd Place Game Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/tacf1HLLQtM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Mic'd Up: Alpha Diallo and Thomas Walkup | 2025 EuroLeague Semifinals
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/027a4ab4-b48f-4c27-bca9-abffed80979f.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-AS Monaco | Semifinal Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/49c234bc-bca9-48c1-a004-b8d02e01e4d4.jpg?crop=652%3A367%3Anowe%3A391%3A44]()
Fall with a monster slam! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/PpOjSJnWmvA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
At the Final Four: Saben Lee, Olympiacos Piraeus
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ryEfF4EJqkA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Playoffs MVP Sasha Vezenkov joins the pre-Final Four EuroLeague & Friends podcast
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e39a98e3-6bae-4949-9542-cc8d9c35c842.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | Playoffs Game 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/c6b88b1a-de58-4d09-bbdf-1b2c0907e272.jpg?crop=1108%3A624%3Anowe%3A107%3A130]()
Monster dunk from Poirier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/6d52eb27-5a14-427d-b615-a32ef50c4363.jpg?crop=1279%3A719%3Anowe%3A42%3A30]()
Thompson with a steal and a dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 02:05
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/02/SQLvmi4JZGPXeij7jHXHG6cxw2ABtFIG-1746219996467.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'Big game from everybody'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/ad002ce6-0411-4c9d-96cc-17ec3361db92.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Playoffs Game 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/850106ee-7c58-4660-bc1b-fecf4901d712.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A138%3A46]()
Elijah Bryant with a big three! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/01/SxEAvJZJPAcuHuIDjXklqXUknL8t9Oba-1746137116043.jpg]()
Kostas Papanikolaou: 'We want to go all the way'
- 01:18
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/01/zHBJvlKzb2m9lGfFIqkhR4lwzf4Z9Cmm-1746137035393.jpg]()
Evan Fournier: 'We're getting closer to our goal'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/0107f761-08f1-4658-838b-5db9dd64bb37.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Playoffs Game 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/01/TLKeZEDtelI1kInX2lZ8Ltuiywdtx3Qg-1746134080649.jpg]()
Vezenkov hits a crucial three! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/7bba8651-fe4d-4b4d-a531-2f1415dda978.jpg?crop=1178%3A663%3Anowe%3A79%3A40]()
Hezonja dunks off the baseline! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/b6439d8e-2a59-44aa-93e6-8213eac37803.jpg?crop=1150%3A646%3Anowe%3A48%3A112]()
Peters’s dunk on the break! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:05
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/63a7677d-788f-437c-9955-a802c20e27cf.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A155%3A57]()
Fall monster dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/30/XKFxY9eQCKfwCkz5jeUe7Zy32S80IMXh-1746045205289.jpg]()
A monster dunk from Oturu! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/0c3a8223-b4f9-4317-8bba-6948f6dc3597.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:28
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/500741f1-8af1-4bac-9c05-45a6355ef421.jpg?crop=707%3A398%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
A fine dunk from Oturu! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/6c0ed04a-20cd-4422-a45b-fea872646363.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/a4c40c8e-7871-4137-a12c-4e2958af9abe.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A237%3A47]()
Wright rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/67ba7453-4024-4a4f-811e-364a76f3bba2.jpg?crop=695%3A391%3Anowe%3A83%3A88]()
Lee’s two-handed slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/25/2dIPkamxk4ZL2LCk9I6VthTOjLOPhRgz-1745619475025.jpg]()
Nikola Milutinov: 'We know Real Madrid is capable of coming back from 0-2'
- 00:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/25/2ZzzVVJFXYIc2cH5wsDNsyOnnmc7rW14-1745619260904.jpg]()
Sasha Vezenkov: 'We go to finish the series on Tuesday'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e5f275e4-956d-49ff-856d-8257cd8c9822.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Real Madrid | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/046d3ac3-d7dd-4fe6-86f6-b7872e60304e.jpg?crop=1224%3A688%3Anowe%3A100%3A46]()
Milutinov rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 02:40
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/b64df6b9-be98-4ad9-a84e-35b0cda31ed5.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A5]()
Masterpiece on the Mediterranean
- 01:34
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/24/AsiaypPBbOgg7sMsp3KAb1T9reRsG3yQ-1745527699985.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'We just had to stay poised'
- 01:01
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/24/64wD0jgGc7NPAmWG3JMdAg3NR9sEmpMn-1745527727057.jpg]()
Vincent Poirier: 'We finished until the end'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e17354f8-b7ce-452d-9a15-d80d4de50cf7.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/24/89uMelBfYzsomRVjNdLrTJBY4gVLTi72-1745528400912.jpg]()
Larkin taking the lead for good! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c8e42709-1c33-48de-8b0d-e520b79f6d2b.jpg?crop=826%3A465%3Anowe%3A118%3A59]()
Oturu with a mighty dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/117e75dd-713a-475a-a750-11816a23f986.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A128%3A76]()
Oturu with the alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7073f6c2-ad4c-4a7d-863b-51aeffb839fc.jpg?crop=1275%3A717%3Anowe%3A0%3A33]()
Poirier with the put-back slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/cec6a741-9037-48e2-906f-315b14c7caf0.jpg?crop=1258%3A708%3Anowe%3A46%3A46]()
Poirier with a fierce small-dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:50
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/23/zqwPRfY6SWcNFRnhI4n8sSOh3pdxJMQ5-1745442546967.jpg]()
Nikola Milutinov: 'We have to stay humble'
- 00:45
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/23/pxRyY7TksQyy34xQCQuW4qV0SuoDdZvH-1745442522890.jpg]()
Sasha Vezenkov: 'Real Madrid will come ready to play in Game 2'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/65dc624a-c107-4a2f-a63e-3660148417f3.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Real Madrid | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/a858182f-8b6e-4c92-bdf3-f9b0e8f202cc.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A118%3A52]()
McKissic skies for a ferocious slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/2b027fe5-9d41-46ca-ae46-86891b1bac56.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A142%3A121]()
Fall detonates the dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/56b9db61-26a3-416c-b245-d3957f567828.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A136%3A97]()
Milutinov rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/d9020bd2-42d4-4eaf-89e5-aaea0842cf2e.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/bbf9f2a0-f2f9-4ed7-942c-5e4713479b38.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A134%3A34]()
Larkin and Dozier conjure some magic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b34c15d6-1cd9-4a42-8f8b-d58c18a37979.jpg?crop=1238%3A697%3Anowe%3A56%3A57]()
Oturu with a strong dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/45829618-26f0-4e3f-9d81-44256e7d5a23.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A106%3A92]()
Poirier rips the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/11/MXcx4LkFEnOKhPmsO0LXp0aXi26avpvx-1744410398344.jpg]()
Poirier with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 02:30
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/11/3D1fS9AhhfucshuEtg1t2CcfNC6p4lyR-1744402127807.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'We've had to win every single game to get here'
