Olimpia managed to win a tough game against Napoli, 86-84. Playing without Shabazz Napier and essentially Maodo Lo – he tried for a few minutes in the first half but couldn’t shake off the contusion suffered in Monte Carlo a fed days earlier -, with no time to prepare this game, Olimpia led for most of the nights and finished the job at the end, when Napoli was able to convert a three-point play to reduce the gap to two points. Unable to score in the last possession, Napoli transistioned to the offense attempting twice the walk-off winning three. Jacob Pullen went short, Ivica Zubcic made it but a little too late. So, Olimpia escaped the night with a win. “We are glad we won because given the circumstances and no time to prepare, against a tough team, winning is enough. Our defense was a little late troughout the game, it was expected, but in the last quarter we step up defensively and this is what won the game for us,” Coach Ettore Messina said.
Riding a good offensive showing early in the game, Olimpia built a 11-point lead in the second quarter, with Nicolò Melli (19 points and 12 rebounds) all over the floor, outmuscling everybody else in the process. Nikola Mirotic was clutch with 21 points and Shavon Shields was his usual self. But in the end, Devon Hall was instrumental in helping the team win. Napoli was a tough out, though.
When Olimpia was not able to finish the game in the first half, Napoli took control of the operation and led by as many as seven points late in the third quarter. A critical moment ensuing, when Shavon Shields made a huge three at the end of the third to reduce the gap to a more manageble four points. In the fourht, he started making two free throws and Flaccadori helped with a enormous three. “With no point-men available, Flaccadori gave us a big lift,” Messina pointed out. He finished the game with 10 points and capped a 8-0 run the turned the game around. After it, Olimpia earned a four-point lead off a Devon Hall offensive rebound and five points of margin with a Mirotic big three. At least four times, Olimpia missed the three to basically close the game, leaving the door open. With 1:17 left in the game, Mirotic converted two foul shots and extended the lead to five again. Tyler Ennis, who had a monster night along Zubcic and Pullen especially, responded with a three-point play. And the rest what a failed offensive attempt and the desperation threes attempted by Napoli. Olimpia won 86-84 with five men scoring in double figure.
