Halloween night presents a new trick in Milan: fourth defeat in the Euroleague, the third in a row among all the competitions after those with Berlin and Pesaro, a playoff (or play-in) objective which risks immediately turning into a chimera like last year. Maccabi Tel Aviv wins the recovery of the second day 90-98 thanks to Lorenzo Brown’s decisive baskets in the final and a dominant performance from an athletic and physical point of view (34 rebounds to 27 and 66.7% from two points).
The match report
Offensively bubbly start in Assago. Milano sees the huge basket and hits a shot 5/5 from three points in the first quarter: Mirotic is the usual driver, well accompanied also by Voigtmann for the 32-27 al 10′. Maccabi are not far behind, but above all they look for two easy points in the area (9/12 in the first 10 minutes). Lorenzo Brown with his raids is a puzzle for Messina’s defense, as well as the athleticism of the big men Bonzie Colson and Josh Nebo. In the second period Maccabi increased their aggression on the perimeter and Olimpia saw their shooting effectiveness decrease (1/6 from the arc), without being able to put a stop to the pace of the Israelis in defence. The visiting team always turns the field over with speed and gets closer. Milan keeps ahead at half-time with Shields’ first plays and the production of his long Mirotic-Voigtmann-Poythress (52-50 al 20′). The third quarter is also a continuous back and forth, but with Maccabi pushing forward. Shields responds to a hot one Jasiel Riviero, who with 8 points in a row brings the game to 72-75 ten minutes from the end and overloaded with fouls Melli and Poythress (4 each). In the final, the percentages from the beginning are just a memory among the many fouls and the even more numerous gross errors. We proceed in fits and starts, with Maccabi in the role of the hare and Milan too dependent on Mirotic, who alternates points and trivial turnovers. Two triples by Lorenzo Brown dig the definitive furrow (84-93) and lead Maccabi to their third victory of the season in the Euroleague. Milan, on the other hand, sinks (record 1-4) with the specter of last season seeming to materialize. Monaco will arrive at the Forum on Thursday of ex Mike James to reverse the trend. However, the situation does not seem the most serene, with a nervous Messina who doesn’t even stop for the usual and immediate post-match interview.
The scoreboard of the match
Olimpia Milan: Lo 6, Poythress 7, Pangos 4, Tonut 2, Melli 5, Ricci, Flaccadori n.e., Hall, Shields 22, Mirotic 24, Hines 2, Voigtmann 18
Maccabi Tel Aviv: Cleveland 15, Blatt, Brown 20, Webb 6, Menco, Sorkin, Di Bartolomeo, Rivero 21, Cohen 2, Nebo 14, Colson 16
