By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
LDLC ASVEL put on a strong comeback effort but Olimpia Milano managed to pull through for an 81-80 road win. The Italians improved to 19-9 in the third spot of Euroleague standings while ASVEL finished the season with 8-20 at 13th.
There were a number of noteworthy displays, starting with the top scorers of both teams David Lighty and Malcolm Delaney who dropped 28 and 24 points respectively. It was a career-high for Lighty.
Tommaso Baldasso scored 13 and Devon Hall 11 points. Victor Wembanyama, after logging a career-high in the French league, scored a career-high also in Euroleague with 18 points. Kostas Antetokounmpo had 11 and Chris Jones ten points.
Milano has had problems with COVID-19 and injuries spreading amongst members recently and the fact the rest of the players stepped up made coach Ettore Messina proud.
“I’m really proud because nobody felt sorry for themselves. They all came in, they played, and did it hard, they played together. It could have gone both ways, because we missed some things down the stretch, but I think we deserve the win for the spirit that we had and also for the quality we showed in some stretches.”
Delaney echoed those words as well.
“They were playing their last EuroLeague game at home; we expected it to be tough. We wanted to get a win, we are shorthanded. We’ve got four or five guys at home, but we still wanted to come out and get a win. We have a big game to prepare for this weekend and then going into the playoffs, so we want to have some momentum.”
Despite being down in double-digits (70-58) in the fourth quarter, ASVEL managed to bounce back led by Wembanyama and Lighty. The French team took over the lead (76-75) after Lighty’s three with 90 seconds remaining but that was just the start of a thrilling finish.
Baldasso banked in a deep buzzer-beating three to return the favor and Delaney followed up with a tough fadeaway two-pointer over Wembanyama to give Milano an 80-76 lead.
Even that wasn’t enough to seal the win for Milano as Okobo made a three-point play and ASVEL got another chance to push for a turnaround. An unsportsmanlike foul by Hall increased their chances further but Lighy missed one of the free throws and Jones couldn’t make the game-winning two-pointer, as the Italian just barely escaped victorious.