Milan's veterans shine as Italians erase 15-point deficit to take down Efes / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Round 32 was tipped off by EuroLeague giants. The fifth and fourth-placed teams met each other at Sinan Erdem Dome.

Player of the Game EFF 16 Nicolo Melli Points 10 Accuracy 4-8 Rebounds 6 Assists 1

AX Armani Exchange Milan (17-8) managed to silence the huge Turks crowd by coming back from a 15-point deficit and overcoming the hosts Anadolu Efes Istanbul (14-11) 83-77 (21-30, 15-21, 26-10, 21-16).

Milan skidded their three-game losing streak away from home.

After Luigi Datome and Shavon Shields' eight points in a row, Milan was up by seven (77-70) with 2:30 minutes to go in the match.

Adrien Moerman terminated the long silence by Efes, converting two shots from the line (72-77). Shavon Shields scored again (79-72), while Vasilije Micic poured in a two-point basket on the other end (74-79).

Armani got a crucial stop, as Nicolo Melli sealed the deal for Italians, sinking a jumper (81-73) with 34 seconds to go.

Sergio Rodriguez led the route for the winners, posting 12 points (1/1 2PT, 3/6 3PT, 1/2 FT), 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, and 17 PIR.

"Players win games, this is the reality. One more time, this has been a game that has been won by the players because they came and they played with the cohesion that we missed in the last game in Tel Aviv and we missed in the first half today.

They played with personality, they played excellent defense in the second half, but more importantly, they moved the ball unselfishly on offense and everybody contributed," Ettore Messina said after the game.

Vasilije Micic put on a show once again this week but it was not enough for the W. He finished the game with 27 points (6/7 2PT, 3/9 3PT, 6/7 FT), 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, and 28 PIR.

2-pointers this season

52%18,1Points made:18,1Accuracy:52,0%Place in standings:16Record max:25Record min:12Most made 2FGs:Kyle HinesTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"The game changed in the second half. We stopped playing, we didn't move the ball, we stopped playing defense and Milano played great, so congratulations to them," spoke Ergin Ataman.

Vasilije Micic turned on his MVP form from the first few minutes. He scored 13 points in the first quarter alone and powered his team to a nine-point lead after the 10 minutes of the match (30-21).

Moreover, Anadolu Efes nailed 7 triples in 9 tries.

After Shane Larkin's 8 straight points, the Turkish powerhouse gained a solid 13-point lead (44-31) in the second. Bryant Dunston took over the flag before half-time and both clubs went into the locker room with Efes being in front by 15 (51-36).

Milan responded at the start of the third period. Nicolo Melli, Sergio Rodriguez, and Luigi Datome-led Armani arranged a 10-2 spurt to cut their deficit to single digits (46-53). That was not the end, as Devon Hall and Sergio Rodriguez drained a couple of baskets more (53-54).

Both clubs were trading buckets, while Kyle Hines capped off the superb quarter by Milan with a two-point bucket (62-61). Armani limited Efes to 10 points per quarter and outscored Turks by 16 points.

Armani Exchange: Luigi Datome 14, Devon Hall 13, Sergio Rodriguez 12 (8 AST), Shavon Shields 12 (5 AST), Nicolo Melli 10 (6 REB).

Anadolu Efes: Vasilije Micic 27 (5 AST), Adrien Moerman 16 (9 REB), Shane Larkin 10.

Highlights

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