Over the last five years in the playoffs, Olimpia is 26-4 at home and 9-1 against Virtus Bologna, on its home court. The loss taken in Game 3, however, forces Olimpia with the backs to the wall even if the game is to be played at the Unipol Forum. It is an “elimination game”. Olimpia has played only two of them from 2021 onwards: the first on a 0-3 situation, on the road, virtualy compromised; the second at home on a 3-3 tie during the 2023 championship series, therefore a do-or-die game for both teams. This is a different situation, it is now or never. Olimpia need to get out of this situation and earn the right to play Game 5 on Monday in Bologna, knowing that on the road Olimpia has already been capable to defeat Virtus once after going within a shot, two free throws or a defensive stop to do that twice. But now it is only time to think about Game 4 and no further.

The Keys

• Defense: Despite allowing only 5 out of 20 threes, Olimpia was unable to adequately stop Bologna’s offense, which didn’t score more than 70 points in the first two games.
• Rebounds: In Game 3 nobody dominated, but Virtus grabbed a few more. So far, whoever grabbed the most rebounds has always won.
• Free throws: In Game 3, Virtus made up for the low percentages on threes by hitting 19 out of 19 free throws. In the last two games, they have shot 44 of them. Part of the defense’s effectiveness comes from a better foul control.

The schedule

Game 1	Saturday 31 May	H19:00	68-67
Game 2	Monday 2 June	H 20:45	66-85
Game 3	Thursday 5 June	H 20:45	68-78
Game 4	Saturday 7 June	H 20:45	Milano
Game 5*	Monday 9 June	TBD	Bologna

1°Q	Olimpia used too many fouls in order to contain Virtus’ offense, reinvigorated by changing two members of the starting lineup, Shengelia at the 5 and Taylor at the 1. With some trip to the line, Bologna gained a 25-15 lead.
2°Q	Olimpia had his best moments when found a little bit of shooting rhythm. Early in the period, cut the lead to two and at the to three before going to intermission down 40-35.
3°Q	A stuttering start allowed Virtus to increase its margin again, but Olimpia came back and thanks to a Mirotic offensive rebound tied the game up at 54.
4°Q	After a short-lived lead, Olimpia couldn’t establish its defense and so, even when it was able to score on several consecutive possessions, never got close, and lost 78-68