Licis dominates unbeaten showdown as Olympiacos crush Valencia 80-60 to stay perfect

The battle of the unbeaten ended in emphatic fashion as Kristaps Licis guided Olympiacos Piraeus to a commanding 80-60 victory over Nikos Karakousis and Valencia Basket, maintaining his perfect start to the Cyber EuroLeague season.

In one of the most highly anticipated encounters of the campaign so far, the defending NBA 2K26 champion from Latvia proved too strong for his Greek opponent, delivering a dominant performance that saw Olympiacos improve to 5-0 while Valencia suffered its first defeat, falling to 5-1.

Olympiacos take command early

The Greek giants wasted little time imposing themselves on the contest. Licis established an early advantage, guiding Olympiacos to a 26-18 lead after the opening quarter.

The second period proved decisive. Olympiacos intensified its defensive pressure and outscored Valencia 20-10, taking a commanding 46-28 advantage into halftime.

Karakousis attempted to mount a comeback after the break, but the defending champion refused to surrender control. Olympiacos edged the third quarter 17-15, extending its advantage to 63-43 heading into the final ten minutes.

With both sides scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter, the result was never seriously threatened as Licis comfortably closed out an impressive 20-point victory.

Defensive dominance decides the contest

While the final score underlined Olympiacos' superiority, the statistics told an even clearer story.

Licis' defensive intensity forced Valencia into 14 turnovers while Olympiacos committed just seven. The Greek side recorded 12 steals, twice as many as its opponents, consistently disrupting Valencia's offensive rhythm.

Olympiacos also controlled the interior, dominating points in the paint by a 44-32 margin and outscoring Valencia 11-0 in second-chance points.

Offensive efficiency provided another significant advantage. Olympiacos shot 49% from the field compared to Valencia's 39%, while its bench contributed 26 points against just 13 from the Spanish side.

Despite Valencia shooting more accurately from three-point range, converting 36% of its attempts compared to Olympiacos' 29%, Karakousis could not overcome the defensive pressure and physical dominance of his opponent.

Defending champion sends a warning

For Kristaps Licis, this victory represents another significant statement in his pursuit of consecutive Cyber EuroLeague glory.

Having already established himself as the NBA 2K26 champion, the Latvian competitor continues to demonstrate the consistency and competitive mentality required to remain among Europe's elite NBA 2K players.

Defeating an opponent who entered the matchup with five consecutive victories only strengthens his credentials as one of the leading title contenders.

For Nikos Karakousis, the defeat marks a disappointing end to Valencia's unbeaten run. Nevertheless, the Greek representative remains firmly in contention near the top of the standings with an impressive 5-1 record.

What's next?

With five wins from five games and a remarkable +100 point differential, Olympiacos sits alone at the top of the Cyber EuroLeague standings.

Valencia, meanwhile, must regroup following its first setback of the season as Karakousis looks to return to winning ways and maintain his position among the competition's leading contenders.

The highly anticipated clash has delivered a clear winner, but the battle for Cyber EuroLeague supremacy is only beginning.

Kristaps Licis remains unbeaten. Nikos Karakousis has suffered his first defeat. The defending champion has sent a message to the rest of Europe.

Final score: Olympiacos Piraeus 80-60 Valencia Basket

Quarter scores: 26-18, 20-10, 17-15, 17-17

Records: Olympiacos 5-0 | Valencia Basket 5-1