With 1.2 seconds left, Nicolò Melli’s triple from the corner certifies Olimpia’s victory, 73-72, after a long comeback, crowned once in the middle of the fourth period but then reconstructed in the final sprint. Cremona had one last chance at the buzzer but Melli also canceled this possibility with the decisive block. Olimpia struggled, started with a handicap, did not find great continuity either in attack or defence, but managed to make the decisive move and save second place in the standings on the evening when Nikola Mirotic returned, not infallible , but author of 25 points in 21 minutes.
THE FIRST HALF – Wayne McCullough, Cremona’s sharpshooter, immediately dictates the timing of the match. He scores three consecutive triples, ten of Vanoli’s first eleven points, and immediately forces Olimpia to the ropes. Cremona’s advantage reaches 13 points, at 18-5, then a turnover against the zone press also stops the first favorable moment in Milan with the four consecutive points produced by Shields. He and Mirotic produce 12 points and bring Olimpia within nine at the end of the first period, 26-17. The inertia seems to change masters in the initial part of the second quarter. Diego Flaccadori scores five consecutive points to close the game to within three. But the return of McCullough, highly inspired in combination with Trevor Lacey, allows Vanoli to find rhythm and nine points ahead. Olimpia picks up the tone a bit in defense in the last two minutes of the half and with a tap-in from Mirotic they close within four, 39-35.
Diego Flaccador
THE SECOND HALF – Olimpia needs four and a half minutes to restore parity, forcing Coach Cavina to spend his first time-out of the second half at 45-45. Melli scored the equalizer with a fade-away, but before that there had been eight points from Mirotic with two front triples. Olimpia goes ahead when Pippo Ricci, with two well-executed cuts and a counterattack, produces three consecutive baskets. But the extension doesn’t come because playing with the long shooters Cremona opens the field and finds three consecutive triples, two from Adrian and one from Zanotti, passing once more to close the third period ahead 54-53. In the fourth quarter, Olimpia immediately went on a 5-0 run with a triple by Mirotic and a thunderous dunk by Hall. But he can’t escape, because Cremona immediately puts Adrian into rhythm for another triple and shortly after Zanotti completes a three-point play. On an unsportsmanlike penalty penalized by Kyle Hines, Vanoli builds a four-point lead. Shields brings Milan back into contact with a triple. Napier from three signs the minus two. Eboua brings it back to within four with two free throws. Mirotic adds two free throws with 45 seconds left. The defense holds up. The last free attack Melli in the corner. His only triple of the match was the victory, 73-72, because Cremona’s last attack was canceled out again by Melli with a block on McCullough
Nikola Mirotic
2024-05-05 22:16:12
#Triple #blocked #shot #Melli #Olimpia #wins
