Messina on scuffle in Milan: 'Hines doesn't get angry like that for no reason' / News - Basketnews.com

Sasa Djordjevic was proud and in peace, while Ettore Messina gave a significant indicator of what had happened after the buzzer in AX Armani Exchange and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul clash in Mediolanum Forum.

Player of the Game EFF 24 Marko Guduric Points 17 Accuracy 6-8 Rebounds 4 Assists 6

Once the final buzzer sounded, a scuffle broke out at center court, with Fenerbahce's Marko Guduric and coach Sasha Djordjevic in the spotlight.

It seems that it all started with Guduric pointing the finger at Milan's bench when he scored in one of the final Fenerbahce's possessions.

After the final whistle that marked Fenerbahce's victory 71-60, Guduric pointed at somebody on Armani's bench again, and Kyle Hines pushed his opponent.

It broke out to a massive scuffle. At first, Djordjevic tried to calm down Hines. But later, a 54-year-old Serbian exchanged some words with Sergio Rodriguez.

In the press conference, Djordjevic didn't get much into detail about what happened after the buzzer.

"It was just a matter of basketball stuff," he responded. "My first goal when I do my job is to respect the fair play."

"I talked to who I had to talk to, and my head is in peace," Djordjevic also added on EuroLeague TV.

Messina also made a short comment on the incident.

"I just know that Kyle Hines doesn't get angry like that for no reason. But whoever saw it knows what happened, and there's no need to say anything else," AX Armani head coach said in the press conference.

Hines later explained his actions on Twitter.

"Basketball is a game. I can accept the results or lose a game. I can accept if an opponent outplays me on a given night. But what I won't accept is intentional disrespect towards my teammates and coaches," Hines wrote on his account.

"Guduric is a great player and had a great game. But what he said at the end of the game towards our coach wasn't needed," the Vice President of the EuroLeague Players' Association (ELPA) added.

3-pointers this season

36%9,0Points made:9,0Accuracy:36,1%Place in standings:6Record max:14Record min:3Most made 3FGs:Devon HallTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"And I let him know that I wasn't going to let that happen. My responses may not be viewed as correct, but I'm a person of respect, and I will always defend my guys when I feel like someone isn't doing the same," Hines wrote.

"When we were in Istanbul earlier in the season, and we won by a large margin, no one on our team was disrespectful during the game. We played the game and left it there. A loss is a loss. A game is a game. But disrespect, I won't let that slide. Enjoy the rest of the EuroLeague season."

A 62-year-old coach didn't hide his disappointment with the game's outcome.

"We played a very poor game, from the tip-off, until the last possession," Messina said. "Fenerbahce deserved to win. We'll try to get back from this loss on one of the road games."

Djordjevic praised his players for showing character. Fenerbahce managed to win despite their main players, Jan Vesely and Nando De Colo, being sidelined due to injuries.

"We all have our problems at this moment of the season. Especially us, who we left at home," Djordjevic said. "I think our guys played with heart all 40 minutes. We were very smart and organized on both ends of the floor. We responded with that character, heart that we had. It's a great win for us. Great win for Fenerbahce."

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The moment of the scuffle:

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