Olimpia also beats Barcelona at home and keeps the playoff goal alive. Milan dominates in the first half, flying to +19 at the break. In the third quarter he experiences the usual blackout, but manages to survive Vesely’s super performance thanks to his defense and the Spaniards’ poor three-point aim. Barcelona fell behind by 2 points with 7 seconds left, but Shields’ free throws (23 points) closed the matter. Little physical problem for Melli at the end
For Milan it’s always a celebration against Barcelona. After the incredible away victory last December 15th, Olimpia also triumphs in Assago thanks to a perfect first half and a good defensive performance in the final period. As in many games this year, the Messina team experiences a blackout in the second half, which this time he survives thanks to the defense and a Barcelona team that is unable to support the excellent performance of the Czech Vesely. On an evening that he saw celebrating at halftime Keith Langford, introduced into the club’s Hall of Fame, EA7 recovers Lo and Bortolani (only a few minutes for the former), but above all finds a polished Shields, always decisive in taking responsibility when the attack stagnates.
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The chronicle of the match
The match begins in the name of defenses and area play, with the teams aiming above all to battle in the paint and from the free throw line. At 12 all, with less than three minutes left in the first quarter, EA7 scores the first set of 11-0 with McGruder’s energetic plays and the quality of the Shields-Hall duo (23-12 at 10′). The Messina team works perfectly in defense, managing to make the difference of centimeters with the giants Vesely and Hernangomez harmless. Melli and Hines muzzle them, while in attack the ball moves well and the lead remains stable. A new acceleration arrives just before the break and starts from wonderful block from Ricci on Kalinic’s triple. Napier signs up for the match with a steal and an unsportsmanlike hit by Satoransky. His first 7 points were born from this, decisive for the 47-28 at half time. Barcelona scores only one triple out of four attempts, while EA7 enjoys the positive responses of the entire roster, which induce Messina not to rush the return of Lo and Bortolani. After the break Barcelona scores a 16-4 run which immediately brings the disadvantage back under double figures (51-44): Vesely is unleashed and dominates under the boards (11 points in the third quarter), while on the other hand Melli is always shy in attacking the rim. A couple of triples from McGruder and Shields provide breathing space, but they are just a flash in the pan in a confused attack: Milan leads 57-49 at 30′ and thank Barcelona’s poor aiming from the arc (2/10). In the last period the offensive fluidity has not been rediscovered, but at least we see the defense from the first half again. Poythress’ return to the field is precious and, combined with Shields’ play and Melli’s rebounds, it is worth the +14 (67-53). A double technical to Brizuela seems to bring the curtain down on the match, but Napier’s numerous turnovers and the pair’s play Vesely-Parker bring Barcelona closer to -5 (69-64). Melli in defense and Shields in attack repel the threat, but the Catalans are die hard and with a triple from Kalinic they bring themselves back to -2 seven seconds before the siren . Shields blocks the victory from the line and Olimpia celebrates a success that keeps the playoff objective alive and keeps Virtus in second place with the Catalans. The smile, as well as from an attack that is still too discontinuous and from the excessive final suffering, is dampened by a physical problem suffered by Melli at the end.
The scoreboard of the match
Olimpia Milan: Lo, McGruder 11, Poythress 10, Bortolani ne, Melli 5, Napier 9, Ricci, Flaccadori 2, Hall 8, Shields 23, Hines, Voigtmann 6
Barcelona: Da Silva, Pauli ne, Vesely 28, Brizuela 2, Satoransky 6, Kalinic 9, Hernangomez 10, Laprovittola, Parker 11, Nnaji ne, Jokubaitis 4, Parra