Olympiacos BC left Kaunas with a 93-91 Euroleague win after a fourth quarter that had just about everything: timely threes, cool heads at the line, and one last trip to the stripe with two seconds on the clock. Kauno Žalgiris led for longer on the night and shot the ball well from deep, but the visitors’ free-throw volume and two-point efficiency ultimately swung a tight game. If you love numbers that explain results, this one was a treat.

A tight Euroleague finish in Kaunas

Quarter by quarter, the game never really stretched: 24-21 after Q1, 44-44 at halftime, 63-64 after three, then a 29-28 fourth sealed it 93-91 for Olympiacos. There were 11 lead changes, and Žalgiris actually spent more time in front at 19:26 versus 15:43 for Olympiacos. Both teams’ biggest lead was only seven, which tells you how narrow the gaps were all night. The final 40 seconds captured the mood perfectly.

With 40 seconds left, Evan Fournier drilled a three to push Olympiacos ahead 90-88. Jean Claudio Montero then drew contact and calmly hit two free throws with 15 seconds remaining for 91-88. Žalgiris answered through Sterling Brown’s cold-blooded corner three with four seconds to go, slicing it to 92-91. Olympiacos got the last word when Fournier split at the line with two seconds left, and that single point proved to be enough.

The numbers behind 93-91: threes vs free throws

Žalgiris won the perimeter battle, shooting 12/26 from three at 46 percent, while Olympiacos managed 5/20 at 25 percent. Inside the arc was a different story: Olympiacos finished 28/42 on twos at 67 percent, outpacing Žalgiris’ 25/44 at 57 percent. Add in the whistle, and you get the key separator: Olympiacos went 22/28 at the line, Žalgiris just 5/6. That 17-point gap at the stripe loomed large in a two-point game.

Žalgiris generated more field-goal attempts overall (70 to 62) and matched Olympiacos at 53 percent from the field. They also moved the ball well with 25 assists to 22 and owned the glass 33-30, including a 14-11 edge in offensive rebounds. But the home side committed 22 fouls to 15, and those extra whistles kept sending Olympiacos to the line. Turnovers nudged the visitors’ way too, 14 for Olympiacos against 17 for Žalgiris, trimming a few possessions the hosts could have used.

Clutch moments and key contributors

Fournier’s closing act stood out, but the groundwork was laid by consistent pressure at the rim and composure under duress. His 19 points included two big threes and a 5/6 performance on free throws, capped by the game’s final point. Jean Claudio Montero complemented that with 15 points and a game-high seven assists while going 5/5 at the line. Sasha Vezenkov’s steady 18 points on 8/10 from two with eight rebounds anchored the frontcourt.

Žalgiris had answers of their own. Sterling Brown poured in 20 on 8/11 shooting with 4/6 from deep and blocked a shot, while Ąžuolas Tubelis was efficient and forceful at the rim with 19 points on 9/13 twos plus seven boards. Jonas Valančiūnas offered a unique line for a center: 11 points, six rebounds and seven assists, hitting a three and chipping in a block and a steal. Carsen Edwards added 16 and four assists, and Marius Grigonis’ nine points came from three makes beyond the arc.

Montero’s night: control and composure

Montero’s stat line reads like a road-map to winning on the road: 15 points, seven assists, five made free throws on five attempts, three rebounds and a steal in 27 minutes. His drives bent the Žalgiris defense, and his timing on kickouts helped Olympiacos rack up 22 assists despite the slow three-point night. Crucially, he committed zero personal fouls and just two turnovers while maintaining aggression.

On Sofascore, Montero posted a Sofascore Rating of 8.1, reflecting both impact and efficiency. Vezenkov matched that with an 8.1 and a game-best PIR of 26, while Fournier’s late-game heroics delivered 19 points and a 7.2 Sofascore Rating. For Žalgiris, Tubelis and Valančiūnas both rated 7.9, echoing how central they were to keeping pace inside. When a game is this thin on margins, those small advantages in control and shot profile matter a lot.

Why Olympiacos won and what it means

Strip away the drama, and the formula is clear: better two-point efficiency, fewer turnovers, and far more trips to the line offset a three-point deficit and a rebounding gap. Olympiacos’ maximum run hit 11, and they kept their nerve during the swing moments, especially in the final minute. Žalgiris did a ton right, from ball movement to spacing to late shot-making, yet the foul count and free-throw volume were hurdles they could not quite clear.

This early-season Euroleague game was a handy reminder that paint touches and free throws travel well. Fans who want to dig deeper into the box score, play-by-play and live metrics can find everything on the Sofascore match page. You can also track the broader picture on the Euroleague hub on Sofascore, where standings, form and fixtures come together in one place. For Olympiacos, banking a road win like this is always valuable. For Žalgiris, there are plenty of positives to carry into the next round.