Shields-Napier lead Olimpia Milano: Scafati knocked out. Attachment to the summit in Brescia

Shields-Napier lead Olimpia Milano: Scafati knocked out. Attachment to the summit in Brescia

“We are happy, a good match, after a good week of training. We continue our race towards the best possible position on the playoff grid.” explains Ettore Messina in the press room after Olimpia Milano's success against Scafati (99-77). Two points that are worth joining Brescia in first place (waiting for Virtus Bologna's match at home against Reggiana) who will arrive at the Forum next Sunday in the top clash of the penultimate day of the regular season.

Shavon Shields shines among the Italian champions with 20 points and 6 assists and a great Shabazz Napier with 18 points (hammering from 3, 6/8) with heavy baskets that lead first (in the second quarter) and then definitively close the match (in the last quarter with a couple of triples that shatter any hope of the Campania team returning).

Positive signs from Denzel Valentine (13 points with 2/2 2-pointers and 3/5 3-pointers in 18'): “He had the ball in hand several times. He alternated moments of defense in which he gets distracted and others in which he is very attentive – for example in the low post he did well with Gentile doing well. A couple of times he missed the shooters. But in attack he showed some good things that he has in his potential. It was definitely a step forward.” underlines Ettore Messina. Zero minutes for Poythress: “I warned him, I told him that today I wanted to give space to Willy (Caruso, started in the starting five, 10 points, 4 rebounds and a good overall performance, ed) elHere, with great professionalism, he was there ready to lend a hand if needed”.

On the injured: “They are continuing to do their recovery work, next week there will be tests to see where they are at. At the moment I am not able to plan a return either for Devon (Hall, ed.) or for Nikola (Mirotic, ed.) But let's see, they will have a check-up on Tuesday and we will understand where they are at.”

OLIMPIA MILANO-SCAFATI 99-77 (28-20; 49-38; 70-57)

MILAN: Poythress ne, Bortolani 2, Tonut 7, Melli 5, Napier 18, Ricci 3, Flaccadori 4, Caruso 10, Shields 20, Hines 9, Valentine 13, Voigtmann 8. Coach Messina

SCAFATI: Cavaliere ne, Sangiovanni ne, Blakes ne, Gentil 6, Henry 20, Mouaha 5, Pinkins 16, Rossato 11, Robinson 12, Nunge 5, Pini, Gamble 7. Coach Boniciolli

Note: 2-point shots: MI 23/30, SCF 20/33; 3-pointers: MI 13/34, SCF 12/26; free throws: MI 14/16, SCF 1/6;
rebounds: MI 33 (Ricci 6), SCF 23 (Pinkins 7); assists: MI 25 (Shields 6), SCF 21 (Robinson 7)