Euroleague playoff game-1: Milan collapses at home, Efes wins

A battle, certainly not a playoff. Milan leaves us blood and game and with it the advantage of the home factor that passes into the hands of the reigning Efes champions.

MILAN-EFES 48-64
Bad race, bad defeat. Olimpia without attack (32% from 2, 28% from 3 and 50% to the free players) and empty in the control room. Evil Rodriguez, very badly Delaney at the end eaten alive by Larkin who, between feats and forcing, embroiders the winning shots. With him the “twin” Micic, the dioscuri of the Bosphorus make a basket when necessary and they hurt Milan who flounders in the game looking for a savior of the homeland. Bentil tries in the first half with three triples that deceive the Forum, then Efes gets going by billing a partial 15-2 in the central quarters leaving the hosts without points for 7 ‘. Only irons on close and long shots. Delaney gets it all wrong, Rodriguez doesn’t flinch, Shields comes and goes like Melli. Under 36-48 Messina tries the card of despair by coldly inserting Daniels, a spectator up to that moment. The former Laker returns him with 5 points but ends there. Because Larkin closes in a big way overtaking Delaney and coach Ataman leaves with the victory he wanted to return to Istanbul to play match balls for the Final Four in Belgrade. In the meantime, however, on Thursday there is game-2, Milan is already back to the wall. He just has to win to stay alive.

Milan Melli 10, Bentil 9, Daniels, Hall, Shields 8
Ephes Micic, Larkin 16, Dunston 9