Time and again, it has been a Shaq Attack for Olympiacos in the biggest showdowns, and Game 4 on Thursday was no exception.
Big-game Shaq McKissic was everything Olympiacos fans have come to expect
From the night he scored 22 points in his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague home debut to beat Panathinaikos 81-78 in the Greek Derby on March 3, 2020, there has been a love affair between Shaquielle McKissic and the Olympiacos Piraeus faithful at Peace and Friendship Stadium.
On Thursday, in his 143rd EuroLeague game in the same jersey, that love affair grew even deeper.
McKissic led Olympiacos to the second-biggest survival win in EuroLeague Playoffs history, dismantling FC Barcelona 92-58 and force a do-or-die Game 5 in their series next week in Spain.
"I've got an amazing coach, an amazing team, an amazing staff, an amazing city, amazing country," McKissic gushed after the season-saving win.
"And amazing fans. That's who we are fighting for, so when you keep that in mind, you want to go out there and play as hard as you can."
Nothing was certain when McKissic entered the game with 3:26 left in the first quarter and Barca ahead 14-19. He didn't leave again until Olympiacos was leading 53-37 at halftime behind the club's highest-scoring first half in a postseason game this century. By then, McKissic had 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists and was well on his way to game highs of 21 points, 28 PIR and a plus-minus of +36.
That PIR total was the second highest of McKissic's career, but was nothing the Olympiacos fans hadn't come to expect.
Two seasons ago, in Game 5 of his first playoff series, he led Olympiacos with 18 points and 24 PIR in a 94-88 home win over AS Monaco that meant the team's first Final Four visit in five seasons. This time last year, his 11 points and 14 PIR in Game 5 helped the Reds surpass Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 84-72 and return to the big dance.
Thursday's encore was nothing McKissic hasn't come to expect from himself, either.
"Back against the wall, it's war time," he said. "That's when I like to have the most fun."
McKissic's latest heroics mean that Olympiacos, last season's runner-up for the title by a hair's breadth, will try to make history in Barcelona next week by being the first road winner in Game 5 history.
One player everyone can assume will be ready for the moment is McKissic.
"We came out and proved why I think we deserve to be in the Final Four," McKissic said of the Game 4 win.
"We've still got one more game, but let's go do it. If they beat us, hats off to them."