Olympiacos and Panathinaikos lead Euroleague playoff series after initial victories

Olympiacos and Panathinaikos have taken a 1-0 lead in their respective Euroleague playoff series. Olympiacos secured a comfortable 91-70 victory over Monaco at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, led by Aleksandar Vezenkov's 20 points and Nikola Milutinov's double-double. Panathinaikos achieved a crucial 68-67 away win against Valencia at the Roig Arena, relying on Kendrick Nunn's 21 points and a disciplined defensive performance directed by coach Ergin Ataman. The second matches are scheduled for Thursday, April 30, with Olympiacos hosting Monaco at 21:00 and Panathinaikos visiting Valencia at 21:45. Both Greek teams are aiming for a second win to move closer to the Final Four in Athens. Olympiacos faces uncertainty regarding the availability of Tyler Dorsey and Taysom Ward due to injuries sustained in the first game. Panathinaikos remains focused on maintaining their defensive intensity to close the series.