By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano cruised past Anadolu Efes, 98-75, at Mediolanum Forum Friday.
Shavon Shields went for a game-high 19 points highlighting the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Round 34 meeting. Kevin Punter with 18 points, including eight in the pivotal third quarter, added on the solid offensive display lifting the Italian powerhouse to 21-13 at the end of the Regular Season. Zach LeDay threw in 15 points and Sergio Rodriguez dished out ten assists to go along with his seven points.
“It feels great. That’s why I am here, to try to make this team better. To help them get stops and win games,” said Jeremy Evans after marking his first game back from injury with ten points and seven rebounds, “It feels great to beat Efes.”
Malcolm Delaney made a seven-point contribution over 16 minutes after missing the last seven games with a left knee injury. Kyle Hines and Michael Roll were out. On the opposite end, Rodrigue Beaubois scored a team-high 15 points, while former Milan player Krunoslav Simon was sidelined due to injury.
An 18-5 run shaped a 20-point cushion towards the conclusion of the third quarter. Milan kept pushing creating additional separation through the last period.
The win snapping a two-game losing streak at home powered by 37/66 field goals ranked Ettore Messina’s fourth in the final standings. Up next, a best-of-five playoffs series versus FC Bayern Munich with the home-court advantage.
“Nothing is done. We have a chance, like everyone playing in the playoffs, but that’s not enough,” noted the Italian boss, “It will be very interesting to get back to the playoffs and play.”
“We still have long ways to go, but one of our goals was to get home-court advantage, which we accomplished,” added Shields, “So, we move on to our next goal, winning the playoff series.”
The visitors coming off six wins in a row in all competitions, already set in third place, fell to 22-12. They will also carry a home-court advantage against Real Madrid.