Olimpia Milano fell 86–76 to Baskonia at the Buesa Arena in Vitoria during Round 3 of the EuroLeague regular season, dropping their second match of the week and showing ongoing defensive vulnerabilities.
Baskonia Overwhelms Milano Early in Vitoria
Baskonia entered the fixture looking to rebound from their opening two defeats of the European campaign, which had finished with a combined -40 point differential. The hosts immediately imposed a fast-transition tempo that caught Milano off guard. Pushed by an unblemished 3-of-3 start from behind the arc within the opening three minutes, Baskonia surged to a 13–2 lead at the 7:02 mark of the first quarter.
Poeta called an immediate timeout to stem the tide, but the adjustment failed to halt the home side’s momentum. Baskonia extended their margin to 13 points at 24–11 with four minutes remaining in the period. Despite Milano securing eight offensive rebounds in the opening ten minutes, the quarter closed with the Spanish club comfortably ahead at 26–16.
Devon Hall Tries to Ignite a Macroscopic Offense
Milano struggled to generate offensive fluidity throughout the first half, rotating ten different players without finding an effective quintet. The visitors’ execution suffered from poor shooting percentages, hitting just 3-of-11 from two-point range and 1-of-11 from deep before intermission. Devon Hall provided the primary spark for the Italian squad, dishing out 7 of his game-high 12 assists in the first half while also contributing 12 points.
The second quarter began at a sluggish pace with a sparse 5–6 scoring split midway through the period. Although Milano continued to fight on the glass, Baskonia maintained control in transition. By halftime, the scoreboard reflected a 44–36 advantage for the hosts, with Milano’s individual talent unable to unlock a stagnant playbook.
Late-Game Rally Falls Short Against a 14-2 Run
Milano showed signs of life at the start of the second half, slashing the deficit to 46–44 with 7:45 on the clock behind Hall’s direction and an Alec Peters three-pointer. Baskonia absorbed the blow and responded swiftly, stretching the margin back to 58–49 before taking a 65–60 lead into the final frame.
The fourth quarter brought high-intensity drama as Jason Burnell took center stage for Milano. Burnell sank decisive triples to level the score at 70–70 with 7:08 remaining, and Milano briefly nudged ahead 72–70. That fleeting advantage disappeared when Baskonia unleashed a decisive 14–2 run, securing an unassailable cushion by the 1:13 mark to seal the 86–76 final score.
Baskonia Beats Milano as Lawson and Duarte Score
Moses Wright led Milano with 17 points, carrying the offensive load inside alongside Hall’s 12 points and 12 assists. For Baskonia, A.J. Lawson paced the scoring with 16 points, while Chris Duarte and Marcio Santos added 10 points apiece to secure the vital home victory.
The win offers relief to Baskonia’s coaching staff following a difficult start to the continental schedule. For Milano, the defeat highlights persistent gaps in defensive concentration and half-court execution as the EuroLeague calendar intensifies.
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