Efes steal home-court advantage in historically low scoring night for Milan / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images Credit Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images

The opening tip-off in the EuroLeague playoffs took place in Italy at Mediolanum Forum, where reigning champs Anadolu Efes Istanbul defended their crown against last season's defeated semifinalists AX Armani Exchange Milan.

Player of the Game EFF 15 Shane Larkin Points 16 Accuracy 6-15 Rebounds 2 Assists 5

Game 1 of the series finished with a low-scoring affair, while Anadolu Efes took down the hosts 64-48 (11-16, 18-10, 17-8, 18-14). The visitors stole home-court advantage from the third-seeded team.

Moreover, Armani Exchange recorded the all-time lowest-scoring home game in EuroLeague playoffs history. The previous low was 53 points by Montepaschi Siena (2008-09).

Milan shot the basket poorly, nailing 9/27 (33.3%) shots from the two-point zone, 8/28 (28.6%) from deep, and 6/12 (50%) from the charity stripe. The Italians also had15 turnovers and only 33 PIR.

Vasilije Micic-led Anadolu Efes opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run to build a 12-point lead (38-26). Both clubs were trading baskets later but Efes did not let Milan retake game control in their hands. The same 12 points differed the squads before the last 10 minutes of the match (46-34).

Shane Larkin took over the flag in the fourth quarter, scoring 5 points at the start of the decisive period. Even though Armani Exchange tried to get closer, Shane Larkin continued his solo show and Efes were up by 13 (60-47) with 4 minutes to go. Both powerhouses were struggling to score and it was a favorable scenario for the Turks.

Shane Larkin led the route for the winners, posting 16 points (3/9 2PT, 3/6 3PT, 1/2 FT), 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, and 15 PIR.

"It was a strange game. We played Milan's strategy in the game. Milan is the best defensive team in the league, but tonight we played perfect defense. We were successful today in stopping the pick-and-roll offense, inside we didn't give them any easy scores," Ergin Ataman commented post-game.

Free throws this season

82%13,1Points made:13,1Accuracy:81,7%Place in standings:6Record max:28Record min:3Most made FTs:Vasilije MicicTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Vasilije Micic came back after a muscle injury. He has not played since March 22. The Serbian guard finished the duel with 16 points (4/8 2PT, 2/8 3PT, 2/3 FT), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, and 13 PIR.

"We couldn't buy a bucket. We didn't play well on offense. We shot awful, and we also got depressed. And on top of that Nicolo Melli got hurt in his calf. So it was a very, very bad night. Let's hope to regroup and play the second one," Ettore Messina spoke.

Armani Exchange closed the first quarter on a high note, arranging an 8-0 run and being up by (16-11). However, powered by Shane Larkin and Chris Singleton's triples, Anadolu Efes responded in the second.

Ergin Ataman's squad started the tally with an 11-0 spurt and retook the lead (22-16). The Turkish powerhouse kept Milan scoreless for 6:54 in the second period. Ben Bentil terminated the long silence with a couple of shots from deep (22-22) but Larkin and Dunston gave their team a 3-point advantage, going into the break (29-26).

Anadolu Efes: Shane Larkin 16 (5 AST), Vasilije Micic 16 (7 REB), Bryant Dunston 9 (6 REB), Chris Singleton 7.

Armani Exchange: Nicolo Melli 10 (7 REB), Ben Bentil 9 (4 REB), Troy Daniels 8, Devon Hall 8, Shavon Shields 8 (5 REB).

Highlights

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