In addition to the playoff intensity, many storylines add spice to this matchup
Zalgiris, Milan to meet in make-or-break game
In what is shaping up as a critical game in the Play-In Showdown race, Zalgiris Kaunas (13-18) will take on EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (14-17) in front of a lively crowd at Zalgirio Arena.
Zalgiris: perfect vs. Italians
Zalgiris has been perfect against Italian teams so far this season, getting three wins in as many games. Zalgiris downed Milan 70-83 at the Forum in Round 11. Edgaras Ulanovas had a season-high 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for a PIR of 32, which is one shy of his personal best. Keenan Evans added 19 points while Rolands Smits 16. Shavon Shields led Milan with 21 points. After that victory, Zalgiris went on a six-game losing streak and head coach Kazys Maksvytis was replaced by Andrea Trinchieri.
Zalgiris has also defeated Virtus Segafredo Bologna twice: 79-82 in Round 1 at Paladozza behind 25 points from Evans and 96-81 at home in Round 31 with 16 points from Edmond Sumner. As such, Zalgiris has a chance to go 4-0 against the two Italian teams this season. Only Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has been able to beat both Milan and Virtus twice this season.
Trinchieri's expertise
Born in Milan, Trinchieri knows a thing or two about his opponent this week, especially about its frontcourt. Trinchieri coached Milan power forward Nicolo Melli for two seasons, from 2015 to 2017, with German side Brose Bamberg. With Trinchieri as coach, Melli earned MVP of the Month honors twice, in November 2015 and December 2016, and was also chosen to the 2016-17 All-EuroLeague Second Team. Melli and Trinchieri also helped Bamberg win back-to-back German League championships in 2016 and 2017.
Trinchieri has more links to Milan's frontcourt. Four-time EuroLeague champion Kyle Hines started his professional career with Prima Veroli of the Italian second division, where he played under Coach Trinchieri for two years. Hines often praises Coach Trinchieri for teaching him the basics of European basketball and putting him on the right path to becoming the player he ended up as.
Trinchieri is 3-8 against Milan coach Ettore Messina. Both coaches' biggest matchup in the EuroLeague came in the 2021 playoffs. Messina's Milan and FC Bayern Munich's Trinchieri delivered an unforgettable five-game series in which Milan prevailed in Game 5. It was Milan's only Final Four appearance since 1992.
Shields, Mirotic in Kaunas
Shields and Nikola Mirotic have been on fire lately, helping Milan to win three of its last four EuroLeague games to stay in the play-in race. Over the last four games, Shields has averaged 15.3 points on 19 of 22 two-point shooting, 4.3 assists and a PIR of 21.0. Mirotic was equally brilliant, averaging 18.5 points on perfect free-throw shooting (18 of 18), 5.3 rebounds and a PIR of 20.5. It will be a special game for both Mirotic and Shields, for different reasons.
Speaking of free-throw perfection, Mirotic set a EuroLeague record at Zalgirio Arena that still stands over a decade later. Playing for Real Madrid, Mirotic set a record for most free throws made without a miss (18) in a 104-105 victory over Zalgiris on March 7, 2013. He finished the game with 31 points, 11 rebounds and a PIR of 37, at age 22. In 16 career games against Zalgiris, Mirotic has averaged 16.5 points and 4.0 rebounds for a PIR of 18.2.
Shields is in a completely different situation, as this will be his first game at Zalgirio Arena in a while. He missed Milan's showdowns in that building in 2022 and 2023 due to injury, so Shields's last appearance at Zalgirio Arena came on March 5, 2021. He led Milan to a 64-69 road victory with 23 points, 4 rebounds and a PIR of 27. Shields is, indeed, undefeated on the road against Zalgiris, averaging 18.7 points on excellent shooting (65.0% 2FG, 50.0% 3FG) and a PIR of 20.0 in three games, two with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and one with Milan.