Second consecutive defeat in the Euroleague for Olimpia (99-92), who struggled to contain the physicality of their opponents and paid for a first quarter with 31 points conceded
Olimpia’s Christmas will have a bitter aftertaste: in the last European match of 2025, the penultimate of the first round, Milan falls 99-92 in Dubai under the blows of Bacon and Wright IV, who lead Golemac’s team to an overwhelming offensive performance. EA7, which started badly especially in defence, gradually returned to the game thanks to Shields, Nebo, and good percentages from 3 (43%), but found no answers for the physicality and athleticism of Dubai, which tied Poeta’s team to eleventh place in the standings with a record of 9 wins and 9 losses.
the match
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Ready, go, and Kabengele sets the record straight: he scores 8 points in the first 2′ and Dubai starts strong (16-8 after 5′). Milan struggles, the ball moves little and the conclusions are forced: the result is a 10-0 for the hosts, who reach 26-11 by attacking Olimpia’s terrible defensive returns on the counterattack. A couple of triples from Guduric and LeDay allow Poeta’s boys to get back into the game (31-20 at 10′), and in the 2nd quarter the long shot will allow EA7 to recover (8/17 at halftime). Dubai, however, maintains the advantage thanks to Dwayne Bacon: he shoots as he wants against whoever he wants, unstoppable for the Milanese defence. First 10 points from Nebo, then two consecutive triples from the corners triggered by Guduric (6 assists) bring Milan back to -2 (41-39 at 16′), but Bacon closes his crazy first half at 20 points with a triple at the siren (score 56-49). After the great attacks in the first half, the defenses stepped up in the second half: Dubai’s continued their super work against Armoni Brooks, limited by Prepelic, but lost Shields a couple of times for two triples. The Milan team, on the other hand, reads the pairings better: they hold their opponents to 0/5 from 3 in the 3rd quarter, and Olimpia comes back into contact again (72-71 at 30′). Dubai then puts the ball in the hands of Wright, who orchestrates a new +7 (87-80 at 35′) attacking in transition, piercing the defense and getting close to his personal double (9 assists). Golemac forces the Milanese attack to enter the area, limiting the shot from the perimeter: Brooks scores a triple but loses a ball that gives the +8 with 3′ to go. It’s the beginning of the end, because Wright and Bacon exploit fouls by earning points on the line, while Milan no longer has the strength nor the time to recover.
Dubai: Bacon 25, Wright IV 19, Kabengele 17
Milan: Nebo 15, Shields 14, LeDay 12