Chalmers nets 26, including 5 in final minute to rally Greek team
Mario Chalmers
Anchorage’s Mario Chalmers turned on the jets while turning back the clock with a 26-point outburst in Greece, his highest scoring game since 2016.
The former NBA guard now with AEK Athens sparked his team’s second-half comeback in an 84-83 win over the Cretan Kings in the Greek Basketball League.
The 6-foot-2 guard scored 16 points in the second half, including nine in the fourth quarter and five in the final minute.
Chalmers, of Bartlett High fame, bookended a 23-8 run in the third quarter. With his team trailing 50-35, he drilled a 3-pointer and later hit a free throw to tie the game 58-58.
Late in the fourth quarter, his 3-pointer pulled AEK Athens within 80-77 with 57 seconds left and his two free throws with 14 seconds left got his team within 83-82, putting AEK in position to win the game from the foul line with 3 seconds left.
Chalmers finished with game highs in points (26), free throws (11), assists (4) and steals (3).
His point total doubled his previous high in Europe after coming over late last season. This was his highest scoring effort since his 25-point game with the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA in 2016.