Olympiakos holds off Aris challenge in Piraeus

Aris nearly took advantage of the recent slump in form of Olympiakos to force a major upset in Piraeus for the Basket League on Monday, but the Reds eventually won by nine to calm their nerves.

Olympiakos had opened a 16-point gap against Aris, but the Thessaloniki team slashed its deficit to just four (69-65) before the host held on for a 76-67 result.

Leader Panathinaikos stretched further its perfect record to 17 wins in as many games with a comfortable 87-75 win at Rethymno on Sunday.

Peristeri scraped through the Kymi challenge that forced overtime playing away from home, and protests that the 94-93 result in the host's favor was the product of referee decisions.

AEK has left Promitheas behind thrashing the Patra team 83-62 at home on Saturday, as the Athens club is bracing for the all-Greek tie in the Champions League against PAOK, that saw off...