Galatasaray bids to remain in Euroleague

ISTANBUL

Galatasaray will need to avoid defeat against Barça in its next games in a bid to survive in the Euroleague. AA Photo

Galatasaray Liv Hospital is on the brink of elimination after suffering a second defeat in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Top 8 playoffs on April 17.

The Turkish champions suffered another blowout defeat at the hands of Barcelona, who romped past the Lions 84-63 at Palau Blaugrana.

If Barça can win the third game on April 20, it will clinch the best-of-five series and return to the Final Four. Barcelona won the series’ opening game 88-61.

However, Galatasaray, a debutante at this stage, will try to remain in the competition with a win at its home.

On April 17, Brad Oleson and Alex Abrines combined for 27 points on perfect shooting off the bench to pace the winners.

Olseon scored 14 with a pair of triples, Abrines netted 13 with three three-pointers. Marcelinho Huertas added 12 points and six assists for Barcelona, whose star Juan Carlos Navarro left the game in the first quarter due to a leg problem. Oleson fueled a 14-0 run that broke the game open, 25-8, early in the second quarter and the visitors never put together a threatening run the rest of the way.

Missing playmaker Carlos Arroyo, Galatasaray had only two points with double figures, with Henry Domercant producing 11 points and back-up point-guard Ender Arslan adding 10 points and seven assists.