By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Taking over in the fourth quarter for Zalgiris, Edmond Sumner paved the way for a home win and set a new personal best in points in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague on Thursday evening.
Prevailing, 87-73, over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan improved the season record to 14-18 and extended the bid to sneak in the postseason to the Regular Season’s penultimate week.
A third win in a row in Europe’s premier club continental competition and a five-game streak combined with Lithuania’s Betsafe LKL.
Sumner, 28, scored eight of his 17 points in the fourth quarter of the Round 32 affair in Zalgirio Arena. Five assists, three rebounds, and two steals boosted a game-high performance index rating of 28. “I felt like I put a complete game together,” said the Xavier product, “Coach has been giving me confidence. He has been staying on me, giving me pointers. I am just implementing.”
“I was hard on him, but I believe this is the best reward I can get. It is like we signed a new player,” head coach Andrea Trinchieri commented on Sumner producing better performances down the stretch of the 2023-24 campaign, “He is very happy too, I believe. The standing ovation was fully deserved.”
In an eighth consecutive showing with double-digits in points and PIR, Keenan Evans shook off a slow start to finish with 20 points behind 7/12 field goals. “We played very good defensively in the first half. We were getting open shots in offense. That is what we continued to do in the second half, but this time we were making the shots,” recapped the explosive guard.
With most of the work done in defense, limiting multiple key options for Ettore Messina, the EuroLeague leaders in making three-pointers improved after the break and ended up with 10/27 to pull away with a late run. Arnas Butkevicius connected three triples en route to a 13-point showing. Rolands Smits (right ankle) and Karolis Lukosiunas (back) were sidelined along with healthy scratch Nedas Montvila for the team coached by Trinchieri.
“I am blessed. My players put together a perfect effort,” noted the Italian tactician, “In the second half, whoever stepped on the court, gave his maximum. Intensity, energy, hustle. And it is a great win. This is a very sweet win.”
The reigning champions in Italy were also coming off two consecutive wins in the EuroLeague but were forced down to 14-18 with a 13th defeat over 16 away games in the 2023-24 campaign. Nikola Mirotic registered a team-high 19 points but went scoreless through the fourth period. Shabazz Napier followed with 17 points. Shavon Shields had 11 points but fell way short of an eighth straight game with a PIR over 15.
“We got destroyed on the offensive rebound,” the losing head coach referred to 12 offensive boards for the hosts, including four by Kevarrius Hayes.
“We could not keep their guards in front of us. Either individually with the guards or we switch with the bigs. We lacked cohesion, helping each other,” added Messina, “We completely lost patience in offense. In the first half, we managed to keep patience. We prevented them from running and attacking the rim. In the second half, we just gave up too much of these opportunities to them.”
Besides Billy Baron (right elbow surgery) and Giampaolo Ricci (right thigh) stuck to the injury list, Giordano Bortolani was left out of the lineup. Recent signing Denzel Valentine is ineligible to play in the EuroLeague. Guglielmo Caruso suited up but did not play.
The big game versus Virtus Bologna
In a quick turnaround and hoping to improve to 17-8 in Italy’s LBA UnipolSai, Le Scarpette Rosse travels from Kaunas to Reggio Emilia and faces UnaHotels Reggio Emilia in PalaBigi on Saturday. On Friday, domestic rival Virtus Segafredo Bologna is the next opponent at the continental level.
The reigning league and cup champions in Lithuania take on 7bet-Lietkabelis on Monday, carrying a 20-2 record in the LKL to Panevezys. Staying on the road, dealing with AS Monaco describes the challenge in Round 33 of the EuroLeague Regular Season on Thursday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net