Slaughter, Gran Canaria finish off Aris in fourth quarter
Dreamland Gran Canaria showed in two quarters just how strong the defending BKT EuroCup champion can be with AJ Slaughter providing the knockout punch in the fourth quarter.
After giving up 28 points in the first 10 minutes, Gran Canaria allowed just 7 points in the second quarter and closed the game in Greece by conceding just 11 points in the final frame in a 66-82 victory in Group B.
“The second quarter and last quarter we made some great defensive plays. We found open shots because Aris was giving us shots. Our shooters made the shots,” said Gran Canaria head coach Jaka Lakovic, whose team made 14-of-29 three-pointers (48.3%).
Aris fought back at the end of the third quarter and actually took the lead. The Spanish side answered with a three-pointer to close the quarter and reclaim the lead. Gran Canaria then scored the first 14 points of the fourth quarter for a 55-71 cushion that decided the game.
The 36-year-old Slaughter was key to the final push. He scored 9 points in the first 30 minutes and then buried 3 three-pointers and 3 free throws for 12 fourth-quarter points to go with an assist.
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Still, being ever the leader, Slaughter deflected the individual attention afterwards.
"We picked it up defensively [in the fourth quarter]. We really played how we wanted to play the full game. Andrew Albicy really did a great job on the point guards. We did it as a team and we are happy with the win to start the EuroCup season off," said Slaughter, who is playing in his third season with the club.
Coach Lakovic said another key was his team dealing with the fans at the Nikos Galis Hall.
"We talked about the atmosphere… and I knew that Aris has been waiting for this game for seven years," said the coach, referring to Aris playing in the EuroCup for the first time since the 2015-16 season. "We wanted to match the intensity of Aris on the court and we did a good job."