Euroleague: Barcelona-AX Milan 73-75 – Basketball

Stronger than injuries, stronger than Barcelona. Olimpia Milano accomplished a real feat and won 75-73 the undefeated PalaBlaugrana of the Euroleague leaders with a reduced roster (without Shields, Mitoglou, Datome and Daniels: or 32 points per game) but thanks to a defense that touches the celestial perfection.

Only the two wrong free throws in the last minute risk ruining the masterpiece but Laprovittola’s triple from midfield only finds the iron on the siren. If in the third quarter the class of Mirotic (18) and the soft fingertips of Kuric (22) manage to make Milan stagger (placing a 2-19 break), the first half and the last period represent a clear message to all the others. of the lot by Olimpia, capable of recovering 10 points of disadvantage: Rodriguez paints basketball (18), Hall redeems himself in the final with a couple of vital baskets, Delaney – on his return – enjoys the former’s evening (15) with the triple that silences the building. But it is the details that make the difference above all: the changes of Melli, the solidity of Bentil and the intelligence of Hines.

“We played a horrible third quarter – highlights a satisfied Messina – but a huge finish. Delaney did many important things but the whole team did incredible things, especially in defense. This victory is a great confidence boost”. Milan will not take the field on Thursday against Unics Kazan: the match has been postponed due to the Russians’ Covid outbreak. Olimpia therefore has four matches in the Euroleague to make up for in an increasingly busy schedule.