Basketball. Serie A: Milan, everything easy in Pistoia. Varese ok in Sassari

The first of the championship in 2025 slips away without problems for an Ea7 Milano with several absences, which in the long run spreads against Pistoia, who have been in a crisis of results for some time. It ends 115-82 with Armoni Brooks as the best scorer, author of 28 points with 6/8 from three and 8/8 from free throws, plus 6 rebounds (36 final evaluation). In the lunch match of the penultimate day of the first round, however, Varese achieved their first victory away from home against Sassari, driven by a double double from Hands (22 points and 10 assists). For the Sardinians the dream of the final eight of the Italian Cup is fading away.

Pistoia-Milan 82-115

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With a third quarter of 35 points scored and 21 conceded, which means a lead of 25 points (59-84) already before the 30′ mark, Ea7 won their third consecutive victory in the championship. The maximum advantage will reach shortly after 36 points (67-103). Messina gives ample space to the Italians given that, in addition to Nebo, Shields, Causeur, LeDay and Dimitrijevic are also missing (precautionary rest). While Bolmaro and Gillespie went to the bench after a few minutes due to two fouls committed each. Mirotic, Tonut and Brooks immediately start hitting from the arc 5/6 after 10 minutes) and in an instant Olimpia is at +12 (13-25). Pistoia reacts strongly in the second period, when Christon, Paschall and Forrest come on in sequence. Overtaking with a break of 11-0. If Diop and Brooks’ pushes arrive before the break (44-52), when they return to the field the Tuscans loosen up while Milan finds solidity on both halves of the pitch and runs away, making the fourth period little more than a formality. Eighth defeat in a row for Estra, the first with coach Gasper Okorn on the bench, the third coach of the season after Markovski’s dismissal.

Pistoia: Forrest 24, Christon 17, Kemp and Silins 15

Milan: Brooks 28, Tonut 15, Mannion 13

Sassari-Varese 81-86

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Openjobmetis continues its ascent with the second consecutive victory, the first away from the start of the season. Pushed by the trio of Hands (22 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists, 33 rating), Johnson (18 points and 8 rebounds with 5/7 from three) and Alviti (16 points and 7 rebounds). On the Sardinian side, Bibbins comes close to achieving a double double with 20 points and 8 rebounds. In reality, it was the hosts who started the best, posting an 11-2 break which was then offset by triples from Alviti, Johnson and Hands. And so Varese ended the interval three points ahead despite the 30 points conceded in the first quarter, and then made a breakthrough in the third (55-64 thanks to a 13-3 run built on defence), reaching the maximum a little later advantage of +13 (70-57). The Bank’s comeback was not long in coming but stopped at -4.

Sassari: Fobbs 26, Bibbins 20, Veronesi 11

Varese: Hands 22, Johnson 18, Alviti 16