Basketball Euroleague: Olympiacos-Milan 67-58 – La Gazzetta dello Sport

An authoritarian Ax forces the Greeks into a long chase, but they are unleashed in the last quarter. However, Olimpia remains third in the standings

The AX Milano holds up for over thirty minutes on the always difficult Olympiacos pitch, starts the fourth quarter with 4 points of advantage but gives a crash in the final and collects the eighth defeat (67-58) in this Euroleague, which does not affect however the third place of the Italian team.

–

The Milanese defense dominates the match in the first part of the match: McKissic, Vezenkov and Fall drag the Greeks to recovery, in the fourth period it is Sloukas who gives Olympiacos the decisive break. Hall, 15 at the siren, and Melli (9 with 11 rebounds) the best for Olimpia.

–

Defenses immediately protagonist in the opening, the Greeks find the first basket with Fall after almost three minutes, 2-2. The award-winning company Hines-Delaney gets to work, Olimpia bites on the outside of the hosts, also works well in attacking rebounds, 6-11 after the 2 + 1 of the former Pelicans Melli. The excellent moment of the AX continues, keeping Olympiacos under the double digits at the first siren, with Bentil and Grant in evidence: 7-15. Olimpia always in control even at the start of the second quarter, Hall makes 12 guests fly: 7-19. There is also the promising return of Mitoglou who smells the scent of derby; a couple of trivial turnovers keep Bartzokas’ men in the running, Sloukas for -6 on 15-21. A couple of Delaney’s spells slow down but do not stop the comeback of the Piraeus team, Vezenkov and McKissic unlock the Greeks from the perimeter: 25-27 at the interval.

–

Recovery

—

Another Milanese tear after the long break, Hall is the protagonist on both sides of the field, Hines for the new one plus 8, 29-37. It is an authentic battle in Piraeus with McKissic and teammates who do not give up, Fall’s tap-in brings the challenge back to only one possession, 38-41. There is the engagement of Vezenkov at an altitude of 43, Olimpia who does not retreat and puts her head forward with Mitoglou, 45-47. The fourth penalty arrives for Datome but the blue does not break down and shoots the triple of overtaking, a champion response from Sloukas who alone seals the mini partial of 56-50. The AX slips up to minus 13, hit again by Fall and Vezenkov. The fuel of the troops of coach Messina runs out, final without worries for Olympiacos, 67-58.
Olympiacos: Vezenkov e Sloukas 16, McKissic 14
Milano: Hall 15, Melli 9, Delaney e Mitoglou 8

–