Spanoulis and Dunston lead Olympiacos past Efes

Two-time defending Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion Olympiacos Piraeus improved to 7-6 in Top 16 Group E by downing Anadolu Efes Istanbul 78-83 on the road on Friday. Olympiacos had already qualified to the playoffs before the game, but faces a battle for third place in Group E against archrivals Panathinaikos Athens at home next week. Efes dropped to 2-11 with its eighth consecutive loss. Euroleague MVP Vassilis Spanoulis led the winners with 17 points. Bryant Dunston and Matt Lojeski each added 13, while Giorgi Shermadini had 10 for Olympiacos. Kostas Vasileiadis and Jamon Gordon each scored 16 points for Efes and Milko Bjelica added 14. Olympiacos had a strong start and a dunk by Dunston gave the Reds a 5-11 lead. Zoran Planinic, who left the game at halftime, stepped up for Efes and a jumper by Gordon gave the hosts a 16-15 lead late in the first quarter. Kostas Sloukas and Brent Petway combined for all the points in a 0-8 run that put Olympiacos ahead for good, 18-25. Lojeski and Spanoulis led Olympiacos to a double-digit margin, 32-43, at halftime. Kerem Gonlum and Batuk tried to change things for Efes, but an outstanding Spanoulis kept Olympiacos way ahead, 60-67, at the end of the third quarter. Olympiacos boosted its margin to 70-81 midway through the fourth quarter and cruised to a well-deserved road win.