Nesterovic injury worries Olympiakos
Olympiakos is still top of the league table with a perfect record after its victory at Kavala on April 13, but an injury sustained by Rasho Nesterovic may mean the Reds will be without the center in the derby game against Panathinaikos three days later. Iraklis was effectively relegated.
The Reds dismissed the hosts with a 92-63 score for their 24th win in as many games, but are sweating over the health of their Slovenian ex-NBA star who injured his shoulder and may well be forced to sit out the crucial game against the Greens on April 16 at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus.
Panathinaikos had a good warmup session ahead of the derby, beating Ikaros Kallitheas 92-70 at home, but the Greens have their own injury worry for Saturday as shooting guard Drew Nicholas has not regained his fitness yet.
Third-placed PAOK lost 77-72 at Peristeri, allowing Aris, in fourth, to get to within one point of its crosstown rival with two games left to play for the regular season.
Aris defeated struggling AEK 78-74 in the day’s most balanced match. The result brought Ilisiakos level on points with AEK but it?s still lagging in the head-to-head record in the battle to avoid relegation after the Zografou side saw off visiting Maroussi 73-62.
Iraklis has already lost that battle, as on April 13 its relegation was confirmed with its 59-52 home loss to Panionios. This is the second time the Thessaloniki club is going down, just one season after coming up from the A2 division.
Kolossos joined Maroussi in fifth spot by beating visiting Panellinios 66-52 on Rhodes thanks to its tight defense.
