It’s Game 5 time, usually the so-called “pivotal game” in a best-of-seven series tied. It is not decisive obviously, but it will deliver the match-point to one of the two teams. Over the first four games, Olimpia has scored one more point than Virtus, 321-320. They would have been five counting only the first 40 minutes of the game. But in the double-overtime game in Bologna, Virtus prevailed and now the finals have become a best-of-three mini-series, with the first battle in Milan and only one day off (with travel for both teams) afterwards. At this point many unpredictable factors will count, tiredness, injuries, episodes, management of fouls. Bologna won the last two games, but Olimpia’s comeback in the fourth period of Game 4 partially sidelined the momentum change in the series. In Game 4, for the first time, was able to significantly lower Bologna’s shooting percentages from two-point range, 62.1 percent over the first three games, 42.3 percent in the last. However, a notable difference in the number of trips to the line remains, 105 against 71, which can be explained by the use of the three-point shots by Milan, 137 attempts over four games. Olimpia is averaging around 11.5 made threes per game, but in the two Milan games, Olimpia shot over 39 percent and won both contests. The series re-start from here. The Mediolanum Forum was quickly sold out for the third time in a row, 12,600 spectators will attend the game, and will be able to transfer energy to Olimpia over the course of the post-season. The team practiced in the main arena late Sunday morning. The availability of Kyle Hines, who came out battered from the fourth game (left shoulder), will be decided immediately before the game. Tip-off time is 20:30 on Monday night. Game 6 will be played on Wednesday in Bologna.

GAME NOTES – Nicolò Melli grabbed at least five rebounds for the 15th time in the last 16 games. In the meantime, he has reached 116 blocks for Olimpia, surpassing Riccardo Pittis for the third place ever in Serie A, behind Bob McAdoo (189) and John Gianelli’s 150… Again, Melli has reached Roberto Premier at 57 appearances with Olimpia in the playoffs, good for the third place in the club’s history behind Mike D’Antoni’s 87 and Dino Meneghin’s 72… The Olimpia captain also surpassed Joseph Blair’s 321 offensive rebounds in the Italian league, becoming the all-time sixth-best in the history. Ahead of him there is Mason Rocca with 348. Melli is also sixth in the defensive rebounds list, four away from John Gianelli’s fifth place (842 against 838) … Billy Baron’s streak with at least one three-pointer made in every game has resumed. Now it’s 21 over the last 22… In Game 2 Olimpia won its 200th playoff game, where it now has an all-time record of 200-136… Shavon Shields, 449 points in the playoffs with Olimpia, is now owner of the eighth place all-time. Antonello Riva is ahead of him with 509. Melli has reached 426 points and is ninth ahead of Flavio Portaluppi who has dropped to 10th place… Shavon Shields’ 26 points in Game 4 are his third best offensive performance in a championship game, the best for Olimpia. His personal high is 31 points. Shields is two points shy of 400 scored over five championship series played including the current one, fourth all time ahead of Predrag Danilovic and behind Roberto Premier.