Basketball statistics

Greece legend Nikos Zisis returned to the local league on Saturday. He helped AEK beat rival Peristeri away and consolidate itself on the second spot of the Basket League.

Zisis, a gold medallist at the 2005 Eurobasket, has decided to end his career at the professional club where he made his name before spending a decade and a half abroad.

The relegation battle in the Basket League was thrown wide open over the weekend, with six teams within one point at the foot of the table, out of which two will go down.

The home wins by struggling Thessaloniki rivals PAOK and Aris took them level on points with Kolossos and just one point behind Panionios, Iraklis and Larissa.

Peristeri defeated AEK on the road to stay unbeaten, along with favorite Panathinaikos, while Ifaistos Limnou lost its perfect record losing at Lavrio, in another thrilling weekend in the Basket League.

Ionikos Nikaias ended a 32-year wait for a top-flight victory in Greek basketball, beating PAOK no less on Saturday, in the third round of games of the Basket League, while Larissa scored its first ever win in the top tier defeating another Thessaloniki team, Aris on Sunday.

A most disappointing Greece suffered a 12-point loss to host Finland on Tuesday and is facing a must-win game against Poland on Wednesday.

Finland advanced to the next round winning 89-77 and making the most of a very poor Greek show for the first 33 minutes of the game in Helsinki.