Olimpia ruins its winning streak in the championship – which had reached seven – by losing at home to a tough, aggressive Varese. Milan left their opponent “alive” when they were on the ropes in the first half and also at the beginning of the third period. When it became a victim of itself, of its defense and of its poor shooting percentages, it panicked (see free turnovers), also due to the issue of penalizing fouls from the first half and the loss due to a blow to the back by Nico Mannion when Ellis had three and four fouls against him. And after closing the gap twice she was unable to respond. At 74-74 he didn’t score again and didn’t take advantage of two opportunities to regain the lead. Varese gained confidence once more and won 84-74
THE FIRST HALF – Varese, with five points each from Iroegbu and Moore, including two triples, jumps ahead 10-5. Olimpia made an impact when Armoni Brooks entered the rhythm: his second triple (eight points in the first quarter) made it 12-12. The overtaking was signed by Guduric and LeDay, then a triple from Nico Mannion also arrived while Bryant Dunston immediately found himself with two fouls against him and would commit the third at the beginning of the second period. Having ended the first quarter ahead 19-15, Olimpia extended their lead with five points in a row from Marko Guduric, a triple and a hook. With Dunston burdened with fouls, Zach LeDay goes to play as a nominal 5. Milan uses the mismatch it creates on defensive switches to escape to plus 12. Varese responds with two easy baskets from Nkamohua and Librizzi. Coach Poeta stops the game at 39-31. For a moment, Milan rebuilds a 12-point margin, but Varese finishes the second quarter better with Nkamohua and closes to within seven, 43-36
THE SECOND HALF – Olimpia immediately tries to extend their lead by attacking the rim but doesn’t go beyond 11 because they have Ellis with three fouls and the bonus exhausted in less than three minutes. While Milan is content to shoot threes, Varese takes confidence, responds, scores with Moore then with Alviti from three. Coach Poeta spends the first time-out when Varese returns to within four. LeDay from three eases the pressure but only in theory. A series of turnovers, the fourth foul by Dunston, generate the break for Varese this time with Iroegbu and a stolen ball by Alviti. Varese goes plus three. Brooks tied the game with a three-point play. At the end of the third Varese has a one point lead, 63-62. Brooks ties again at 65 with a triple but immediately afterwards Josh Nebo commits his fourth foul on a three-pointer by Stewart. Varese runs away when Olimpia loses the ball for no reason and finds themselves nine points behind. This time he responds strongly, first Guduric with a long two then with a triple from Shields and a dunk from Nebo on a play created again by Guduric. The draw at 75 is still Guduric’s on entry. Their good defenses give Olimpia two opportunities to put their heads forward but only two three-pointers are blocked by the rim. Varese takes advantage of it, responds and goes away to win 84-74.
