The home team prevailed after its talismanic power forward Nikola Mirotic scored 12 of his 21 points in the home stretch
Milan triumphs in rollercoaster Derby d’Italia against Virtus, 99-90
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan came out on top in a rip-roaring Derby d’Italia against Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 7 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, after a strong fourth quarter propelled the home team to a 99-90 win with veteran Nikola Mirotic stealing the show.
The 33-year-old paced Milan with a tremendous double-double of 21 points and 13 boards, having netted 12 points in the home stretch when the home team turned the tide for good. Zach LeDay chipped in with 19 points, Fabien Causeur netted 18 and sharpshooting Stefano Tonut sank 14, making 5 of 6 shots from the floor and 4 of 5 from deep.
Virtus, which had turned a 40-23 deficit late in the first half into a 49-55 lead midway through the third quarter, leaned on Toko Shengelia who amassed a game-high 25 points and Marco Belinelli who poured in 21.
Milan snapped a four-game skid and improved to 2-5 while Virtus dropped to 1-6 after failing to register a second successive road win, following a 69-70 victory at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in Round 5.
Game Videos
Few fans in a packed Unipol Forum gym would have expected the clash between Italy’s heavyweights to develop into a classic after a tepid first quarter, with Milan shooting 2 of 10 from downtown and Virtus 2 of 11 from two-point territory.
Milan carved out a 21-14 advantage on the back of second-chance points generated by 5 offensive boards and once the home team got going, three-pointers started raining in from all angles as Milan made 5 in a row after missing the opening 8. The lead soared thanks to quick movement of the ball and a barrage of fast breaks, but Virtus was able to conjure a 4-12 run by halftime which slashed its deficit to 44-35 at the interval.
That streak set the tone for the third quarter, with Virtus taking the game by the scruff of the neck as Shengelia and Belinelli led the visiting team’s charge, with their vociferous band of supporters in full swing in one of the gym’s upper tiers.
Shengelia’s buzzer-beating triple gave Virtus a 66-67 lead heading into the final 10 minutes and the game appeared set for a dramatic climax early in the fourth quarter with the rivals tied, 73-73. LeDay then completed a three-point play that paved the way for a 9-0 Milan run and gave the home side the lead for good, but it was Mirotic who made sure there was to be no final twist.
Virtus refused to roll over and kept coming at Milan as Shengelia and Belinelli fired on all cylinders, but Mirotic rifled in his own salvo at the other end, as the fascinating battle turned into a three-point slugfest. Ultimately, Milan had too much firepower and retained the bragging rights over Virtus, although the visiting team was still able to walk off the court with their heads high after making a strong effort against their perennial rival.