By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Mike James and Vladimir Micov combined for 42 points, leading Olimpia Milano to a 93 – 90 victory over Baskonia in coach Velimir Perasovic‘s EuroLeague return with the latter.
Thanks to 20 points plus eight assists, James was named the MVP of the match while Micov posted a game-high 22 points, continuing the top-notch performances in what is so far the most productive season of his eight-season EL career (17.5 points per game).
“It’s not important who was the top scorer of the game,” Micov said in his post-game flash interview. “It’s important that we won the match.”
“We didn’t really like that. It’s important for keeping our confidence and continue strong,” James mentioned. “It’s cool,” he added regarding his personal output “Better that we won.”
Baskonia center Vincent Poirier registered a game-high 30 PIR after scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Matt Janning added 18 points plus five boards while Lucas Vildoza scored a career-high 15.
Vildoza had a pretty good chance to become somewhat of a late hero for the Basques. The Argentinian youngster made the 89 – 87 with a jumper with 1:06 remaining but in the next offense he missed an unconsented lay-up attempt.
Curtis Jerrells made 2/2 from the line on the other end to put his team at a two-possession distance and then made it 93 – 87 with another pair of free throws. But it was not over.
Janning drained the 3-pointer to give his team a glimpse of hope and then Micov committed a turnover on the out of bounds pass. Baskonia could make a shot to tie the game but Darrun Hillard’s corner 3 attempt was successfully contested by Jeff Brooks.
Thus Baskonia suffered its third loss in a row and is now 2-6. Milano, on the other hand, improved to 6-2.