After a game resembling an All-Star Game (“Pages about defense on our books seemed lost,” Coach Ettore Messina joked at the end), Olimpia defeated Reggio Emilia 108-106. So much for Reggio Emilia having one of the best defense in the Italian league. Olimpia got into a rhythm early and never got off of it. “Maybe with a crucial week ahead for both teams in the international competitions, subconsciously, we didn’t feel like being physical enough, being aggressive enough. I need to forget about our defense and remark what we did offensively, moving the ball, alternate inside and outside solutions, scoring once again more than 100 points,” Messina added. Olimpia’s winning streak in the Italian league got to four. Three times over that span, Olimpia scored more than 100 points. It was also the third straight over 100 game overall.
It was a tough game, however, because Reggio Emilia was on fire offensively too, connecting 15 threes on 30 attempts. Kwam Cheatham was brilliant going 8-for-10 from downtown. Olimpia, after responding to an early seven-point deficit, led for the last three quarters, saved a single possession with 1:30 left in the game. Nikola Mirotic, who scored a Olimpia personal best of 33 points, made two free throws immediately and Milan regained the lead. Shields with a super drive opened up a three-point margin, then uncharacteristically Olimpia didn’t finish the game from the line, missing four foul shots late and giving Reggiana one last buzzer beating attempt to steal the win. It didn’t work and Olimpia won.
Mirotic was a nightmare all night long for Reggio Emilia. He established his inside game especially when guarded by smaller opponents. Olimpia was efficient in making all the mismatches productive for its offense. In the second half, Mirotic started connecting on long-range shots too. Shavon Shields then took over at the end, finishing with 23 points, many of them crucial. Zach LeDay, Nico Mannion and again Diego Flaccadori had big moments too. Olimpia was shorthanded in the bigs and used smallball lineups for the majority of the game and finally prevailed improving its Italian league record to 10-5.
