By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
Increasing the defensive intensity in the second half, Real Madrid found the 77-83 victory in Milan, bouncing back after the loss at home against Virtus Bologna in Round 5.
Dzanan Musa performed his season-high with Real Madrid, scoring 25 points and helping Chus Mateo’s team escape in the last quarter.
After having 18 points against Virtus Bologna, the other half of the “Splash Brates” Mario Hezonja found his second-best scoring performance in the 2022-23 EuroLeague with 15 points.
Before the start of the game, the Italian team paid tribute to Sergio Rodriguez, who left the team in the summer to come back to Spain. The beloved point guard had 9 points and 4 assists in his first game in Milan as an opponent.
“We were able to suffer and fight until the end. This is a very tough court, the atmosphere is great and the crowd is always pushing Olimpia. In the first half, we allowed too many three-pointers, but in the second half we were able to defend and rebound well with Milano missing some open shots”, Chus Mateo said in the post-game press conference.
Kevin Pangos, who replaced Sergio Rodriguez as the starting point guard for Ettore Messina’s team in the summer, ended the game with 21 points.
On his EuroLeague debut and first game after the leg injury that forced him to miss the beginning of the season, Nazareth Mitrou-Long added 11 points.
“The feeling I have is that they were more aggressive in the second half. We built for most of the time open shots, but we missed at least seven completely open three-pointers. They’re a very good team. We need to continue working and hopefully get better”, Ettore Messina said in the post-game press conference.
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan found an almost perfect first half from the perimeter (12/16), but couldn’t deliver after halftime, closing with 15/31 at the final buzzer.
Real Madrid’s defense stepped up in the second half, conceding 50 points to the home side before halftime and only 27 between the third and fourth quarters.
The Spanish team dominated around the rim, capturing 40 rebounds. Milan only got 24.
Ettore Messina didn’t have Shavon Shields, who is out for 4-6 weeks due to a foot injury, and Tommaso Baldasso. The Italian coach decided to sideline Davide Alviti and Paul Biligha.
Chus Mateo didn’t have Carlos Alocen, who is recovering from a severe knee injury and is out indefinitely Anthony Randolph, who is also sidelined due to a knee injury, Rudy Fernandez, who is out because of a wrist injury, Nigel Williams-Goss, and Fabien Causeur.
With this win, Real Madrid comes back to the playoff picture and ties EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on a 3-3 record.
Real Madrid currently holds an 18-3 record against Milan, which will face Virtus Bologna on Wednesday in the first-ever EuroLeague game between the two Italian teams.
PHOTO CREDIT: Real Madrid Baloncesto