Milan Dominates Panathinaikos, Secures Eighth EuroLeague Victory
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Milan’s Olimpia EA7 secured their eighth victory in 15 EuroLeague games on December 11th, defeating Panathinaikos 96-89 at the Forum in Assago. A dominant performance from Brooks (26 points) and LeDay (15 points) propelled Poeta’s team to victory, proving to much for Ataman’s squad.
The Forum has quickly become a challenging venue for Greek teams, following a similar result against Olympiacos. Panathinaikos struggled to contain Milan’s potent attack, which shot 12/21 from two-point range and an remarkable 17/33 from beyond the arc, racking up 20 assists in the process. the Greeks fell for the second consecutive time in European competition, marking their sixth loss overall.
“Hot Brooks” Ignites Milan’s Offense
Milan initially focused on applying pressure and driving to the basket against Panathinaikos. While the Greek team, led by Nunn, initially exploited their size advantage under the basket, Milan quickly adjusted. The dynamic duo of Brooks and Guduric proved pivotal in the second quarter, shifting the momentum in favor of the hosts. Milan tightened its defense, limiting Panathinaikos to just 18 points in the second period, and capitalized on Guduric’s tactical playmaking, which resulted in five assists.
Brooks exploded offensively, scoring 20 points in the first half, including 6 of 9 attempts from three-point range. A 12-0 run spearheaded by Brooks put Milan firmly in control, leading 52-36 at the 18-minute mark.
LeDay and a Barrage of Threes Extend Milan’s Lead
EA7 continued its aggressive play into the second half, forcing turnovers and capitalizing with LeDay and Shields in transition. A three-point play by LeDay, formerly of Partizan, extended Milan’s lead to 67-48 at the 24-minute mark.Milan maintained its relentless energy, contesting every shot and frustrating Panathinaikos’ offensive efforts.
After Bolmaro’s perfect 2-for-2 shooting,Milan surged to a commanding +23 point lead (80-57) late in the third quarter. The fourth quarter saw Milan comfortably manage its advantage, consistently adding to their score with three-pointers. Despite a late attempt by the Greeks to mount a comeback, closing the gap to 95-88 in the 39th minute after a basket by Grant, Milan held on
Why did this game happen? This was a regular season game in the EuroLeague, a top professional basketball league in Europe. Milan hosted Panathinaikos at the Forum in Assago, Italy.
Who were the key players? Milan was led by Shabazz Brooks, who scored 26 points, and Guigi LeDay, who added 15. For Panathinaikos,Kostas Sloukas led with 19 points,followed by Kevin Nunn with 17 and Hernnamez.
What was the outcome? Milan defeated Panathinaikos 96-89. Milan’s strong shooting and defensive pressure proved too much for Panathinaikos to overcome.
**How did the
