The Reds were vastly improved from the second quarter onward, but they came up short against the reigning champion
Olympiacos dug itself too big a hole to get out of against Real Madrid
Article
3 Minute de lecture
For anyone who tuned in at halftime of Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus’s semifinal bout at the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, they will have seen a second half that featured a very impressive performance by the Reds.
The problem is that Georgios Bartzokas’s side had such a bad first half that the writing was already on the wall. Real Madrid erupted for 56 points in the first 20 minutes compared to just 37 for Olympiacos, as the Greek outfit found itself down by 19.
Although the second quarter was closely fought, with Real outscoring Olympiacos 28-27, it was in the first quarter where the wheels fell off for the Reds as Los Blancos closed the opening 10 minutes with a 28-10 lead.
“We got down so big and against a lethal team like that, it’s going to be tough to come back,” Nigel Williams-Goss said in the mixed zone after the game. “You’ve got to give them a lot of credit with the way they started the game, I’m just disappointed with the way we came out and we didn’t really execute our game plan.”
Game Videos
- 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
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/dd9ce83d-4ce3-4854-9001-c44c714ff981.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A96%3A72]()
Hezonja monster block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 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
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9c9b78e2-52c1-4ce9-aacc-57c92a5f0125.jpg?crop=799%3A450%3Anowe%3A129%3A41]()
Fernando rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:24
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/35948bfa-18f4-4960-b3f2-cc4ad69e357c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A123%3A91]()
Fernando dunks in transition! 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
- 00:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/29/jrxu3yqs5U7ydRRjtu3EbgIbMwcCZcoz-1745961717234.jpg]()
Dzanan Musa: 'We have the formula of how we want to play'
- 00:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/29/mO45yHFUPbCMMz3R350CVs7LLHmGDW8T-1745961668102.jpg]()
Walter Tavares: 'The playoffs are about defense, not offense'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/6c0ed04a-20cd-4422-a45b-fea872646363.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/29/McK1KJFeR8gJEuYRchFQUc5Ns0L2IGFK-1745961927553.jpg]()
Ibaka rejects McKissic! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 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
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/223b392e-8a5d-4f1b-ae25-0b62450fbcbb.jpg?crop=1326%3A746%3Anowe%3A12%3A58]()
Deck ends first quarter in style! 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
- 01:36
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/18/oRmwhndQqV988zEHbnvuslD9mgh0mdGM-1745012748603.jpg]()
Mario Hezonja: 'We can do great things'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/M027YYk1y4Q/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-FC Bayern Munich | Play-In Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/05f5944b-758a-4e49-a602-838b0b2873a2.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A119%3A53]()
Campazzo’s creative magic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/83152274-5365-4de4-9ebd-a716da09594b.jpg?crop=841%3A474%3Anowe%3A253%3A89]()
Real teamwork from Madrid! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/3lanP-cIS84/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Walter Tavares, March-April MVP: ‘It’s hard these days to be a big man’
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/UWFX2gZZjxM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Paris Basketball | Play-In Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
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Tavares dunks in transition! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/10/XBUUgvdm4pzVibXQUrm9fdYZP8FXDrr9-1744319581613.jpg]()
Walter Tavares: 'This is a gift from God'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/1dbd7a2b-309d-4eb2-aeb4-f385a10ecef6.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Real Madrid | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:15
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/10/WsRYYZQ6fdUkxHGncV55uwSCW2dGTjUD-1744319655808.jpg]()
Moses Wright: 'It's great to be back on the court'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/5918722c-7382-462a-a0fa-aa3394e822aa.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:46
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/10/WhvtN7sIIfLqU3suuOHoeM9jDSTYBexT-1744320572056.jpg]()
Tavares wins it with his soft touch! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/304bcd8f-a953-4947-9d15-1d7ac447a299.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A39%3A78]()
Hezonja rocks the rim with aplomb! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/12ba39ae-86e6-408f-89d2-65220c62147a.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A67%3A84]()
A huge dunk by Tavares! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:37
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/05/b9faeCpLE1CULdiiObW7rnOQC6Oeo4P7-1743811407714.jpg]()
Alec Peters: 'Career high, but what's sticking with me are the zero rebounds'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/be6165dc-c29e-4868-b8a1-699d05fd43f5.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/03/RD8fDyHU6pUyP2CV8w6v7b0eaphx61MW-1743718070483.jpg]()
Mario Hezonja: 'Every time there is a challenge, we respond'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/96115336-839e-4057-bd83-5b13036c68a7.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Paris Basketball | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/03/T61Q8zliJp48YkwM4WNSB86p9yKzh0km-1743714624899.jpg]()
Hezonja's reverse dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/22e05e0a-3501-437f-a927-72aa26084767.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A141%3A94]()
Ibaka's double block! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c2eb8757-5c14-4166-8495-23fb6c979f50.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Real Madrid | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fe2cd5ab-b088-4621-9a24-5e47733343b2.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A56%3A66]()
Hezonja with an almighty dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c1bd3fde-2cc7-4e1d-be77-e2f10912bfdf.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-AS Monaco | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Looking solely at the second half, Olympiacos increased its intensity and managed to outscore Real 31-39 in the final 20 minutes, but the reigning EuroLeague champion still came away with an 87-76 win. When Williams-Goss cut the deficit to eight points, 77-69, with 5:38 to go, it looked like a famous comeback was on. However, Real managed to raise its game again to secure its third straight championship game appearance.
For some of the Olympiacos players, they were left feeling frustrated at what could have been after Bartzokas’s men outscored Real 59-66 for the last three quarters.
“We proved there in that second half that we know what it takes, we just didn’t do it for the entirety of the game,” Thomas Walkup commented in the mixed zone. “It’s a difficult one to swallow, just because we proved that we could do it [in the second half].”
“We cut it to like seven [points] and I think we had the opportunity for a split second,” Shaq McKissic noted. “But you can’t make any mistakes against this team.”
That’s something Olympiacos knows all too well.