Basketball Euroleague, Milan and Virtus win: Panathinaikos and Zalgiris ko

The return round of the Euroleague of the two Italians is off to a great start, still one step away from the play in zone. Milan beats Panathinaikos’ Telekom Center 87-74 thanks to 24 points from a super Brooks and 17 from an excellent Lorenzo Brown, former player of the evening. The percentages from three are good (10/23), but the Milanese defense decides the match. Tenth success in the Euroleague for Olimpia which condemns the Greeks to a second knockout in a row. Virtus Bologna scores their second consecutive victory, the tenth for them as well, at home against Zalgiris Kaunas, putting an end to a taboo that had lasted for 7 games against the Lithuanians, with as many knockouts since their return to the Euroleague. It ends 83-79 at the end of a match always conducted and then with a point-to-point finish; decided by the defense and a triple by Vildoza even if the MVP of the evening is the man everywhere Alston Jr: 20 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists with a rating of 19. Niang close to double double with 11 points and 7 rebounds.

PANATHINAIKOS-MILAN 74-87

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Milan gets back up playing the best match of the season. He wins in Athens and redeems himself after 3 knockouts in the Euroleague. Brooks and Brown were decisive, combining for 41 points. Tenth success for Poeta’s boys, who condemn the home team to a second knockout in a row. Panathinaikos exploits Nunn’s talent, especially from the perimeter at the start and benefits from the great size of its big men, Holmes and Faried, triggered on pick and rolls. The hosts reached +10 three times in the first half. Milano manages to sting when he closes the area and runs in transition, serving Nebo’s cuts and taking advantage of the plays of Mannion, Brown and LeDay. Ataman’s men try their first real escape in the 18th minute when Holmes scores 38-28 on the approach, but EA7 reacts, thanks to Brooks, who scores from the mid-range and gets important fouls, closing with 12 at 20′ (43-38 20” from the 20th minute). Olimpia scores a 7-0 break at the start of the third quarter, thanks to the aggressiveness of the defense and the counterattacks, finished by Booker and Brown. The excellent work under their own basket allows EA7 to find themselves on +5, after the basket of an excellent Ricci from 2 (48-53 at 26′). The Greeks absorb the blow and thanks to Sloukas, who scores and assists Yurtseven and Hernangomez’s very hot hand from the arc comes the counter break of 8-0 (58-55 at 28′). In the fourth period, EA7 continues to defend well. Mannion’s impact was excellent, holding up Grant’s one-on-one and putting Nebo and Ricci into rhythm (63-71 in the 33rd minute). Olimpia continues not to concede the area to the Greeks and with a couple of triples from Brooks and a basket from a super Brown they close the game (69-82 in the 38th minute).

Panathinaikos: Hernangomez 17, Holmes 14, Sloukas 13 Milan: Brooks 24, Brown 17, Nebo 16

BOLOGNA-ZALGIRIS 83-79

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With Edwards far from 100%, Virtus must follow the path of solidity, especially in defense. And so it happens both between the second and third periods, when the most significant advantage is built, and later in the final when the comeback has to be resisted. The Lithuanians always chase, they start by shooting badly and losing the rebound and they improve at distance. Morgan, who scored 13 points in the first quarter, gave the game an early double-digit lead (16-6). But the game is young and a couple of missed passes favor the return of Zalgiris, transformed by the entry onto the pitch of Francisco who nails a dunk from the cinema library during the break which is worth -1. Given the difficulties, coach Ivanovic has to get the injured Edwards and Smailagic off the bench, fundamental in the second quarter to keep the guests at a distance with a triple (the first), blocks and attacking rebounds (the second), until Vildoza also comes on for another tear (43-34 at 19′) which confirms the offensive difficulties of the guests, stuck with 12 points scored in the second quarter. When the shots from the arc of Edwards, surgical in the moment of need, and Pajola are added to the raids of a super Niang, the +12 in the 28th minute is created (58-46), soon put to rest by the shots of Wright (11 in the third period) and those of Azuolas who shortens and makes things much more difficult for the VuNere in the last battle. Very hard, and point to point. Edwards is limited by the guest defense, Vildoza and Alston score from the arc but it is not enough against the continuity of Tubelis and Wright, the signatures of the 9-0 run that takes the guests from 74-65 to 74-74 with 2’51” to go. What makes the difference, again, is the defensive genius: in particular two recoveries by Pajola and Hackett which pave the way for Vildoza’s triple (79-74 at 1’14”), ultimately decisive. Virtus: Alston Jr 20, Morgan 15, Niang and Edwards 11 Zalgiris: Tubelis 22, Wright 19, Williams-Goss 17