Credit: BasketNews/D.Repečka
Credit: BasketNews/D.Repečka
Credit: BasketNews/D.Repečka
Credit: BasketNews/D.Repečka
Credit: BasketNews/D.Repečka
In a battle between two teams at the top of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings, AX Armani Exchange Milan (7-1) handed FC Barcelona (6-2) their second loss of the season, beating them 75-70 (28-21, 14-13, 19-15, 14-21).
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Barcelona started the fourth quarter with an impressive 14-0 run, not allowing Milan to score for almost six minutes and gaining a two-point lead (63-61).
But then, Shavon Shields hit a 3-pointer, and Luigi Datome converted a four-point play to put Milan back up by five with 1:45 remaining (71-65). Sergio Rodriguez's pull-up jumper put the nail in Barcelona's coffin as Milan came away with a six-point victory.
Datome led Milan with 17 points (2/5 2PT, 2/3 3PT, 7/8 FT), 2 rebounds, 1 steal, and 16 PIR.
"It's a 40-minute game, we stayed there, we kept trusting each other and the ball fell in at the end which was very important," Datome explained post-game.
"You can’t beat Barcelona after 30 or 35 minutes, you have to beat them in 40 minutes. We found a good high-low especially against the switches, they’re a physical team and very good at switches, and we had a couple of important stops."
Brandon Davies was the leader for Barcelona, finishing with 12 points (5/8 2PT, 2/3 FT), 6 rebounds, 1 turnover, and 15 PIR.
It was a high-scoring affair in the first quarter, with Milan leading the way and gaining a seven-point lead to end the period (28-21).
Even though Barcelona cut their deficit to three (27-30), Milan responded with a run of their own, gaining a 10-point advantage after the third 3-pointer by Devon Hall (40-30).
Both teams went back and forth in the third, but Luigi Datome and Konstantinos Mitoglou let Milan secure a 12-point lead going into the final period (61-49).
"We had a very good lead and then we stopped moving the ball," Milan coach Messina said post-game. "We went away from looking for our bigs and just attacked the perimeter. Against Barcelona, that’s impossible to do or you lose the game. The players did an amazing thing and found again their composure, getting back to being disciplined on offense."
Milan: Luigi Datome 17, Donta Hall 16, Konstantinos Mitoglou 11 (5 REB), Shavon Shields 11 (6 AST), Sergio Rodriguez 6.
Barcelona: Brandon Davies 12 (6 REB), Nigel Hayes-Davis 10, Nikola Mirotic 10 (6 REB), Nick Calathes 9 (7 REB, 5 AST), Kyle Kuric 9.
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