Serie A: Milan unleashed, places a 32-0 break and passes to Sassari

BRINDISI-VENICE 75-63
Brindisi redeems itself after the last disappointing performances in the league by beating Venice in a match prepared in every detail and which saw coach Vitucci’s team leading for almost all of the 40’s. The departure of the hosts with Mascolo in the starting line-up in Bowman’s place is convincing: after Reyer’s first basket, Brindisi takes command of operations (10′, 17-6), albeit with many mistakes in attack. Venezia manages to do even worse, collecting shots on the three-point rim (0/8 in the first quarter) and turnovers (5). The guests’ fast ends at the beginning of the second quarter, when Spissu and Freeman with two consecutive triples get the attack back in motion (12′, 19-12).

Brindisi tries to stem the shock wave of Reyer who woke up after the initial torpor (6/8 from 3 in the second quarter) and was able to overtake (28-29) before the long interval. Back on the pitch, Reed takes the lead with 8 consecutive points (14 in the 3rd quarter) which allow Brindisi to extend his lead again (23′, 39-31). Granger is the only one in Venice who has continuity to sting the defense of Brindisi, which has become a difficult wall to overcome over the minutes. Spissu’s three-point shot at the buzzer in the 30th minute (52-47) allows Venice to hang on to the game. Brindisi solves the puzzle in the first 3′ of the last quarter with a 9-0 run (61-49) and Mascolo is the absolute driving force in the draw which will prove to be decisive and will also give the maximum advantage (68-53) at 2′ from term. (Joseph Mazzone)
Toasts: Reed 28, Mascolo 14,
Burnell 10
Venice: Granger 16, Freeman 14, Spissu 9.

Third consecutive victory for Brescia which, despite the absences of Caupain and Petrucelli, finds an all too simple success against a Napoli which totally melts between the second and third quarters, overwhelmed by Massinburg and Gabriel. The hosts, returning from the Eurocup defeat against Venice (60-80), start strong (14-7, 10-0 partial): the +14 at the beginning of the second quarter (29-15) is the direct consequence of that that Brescia expresses with all its players. It’s up to a deadly Zanotti (12 points in 7′) to put Napoli back in the game (47-43) at the start of the second half. Gabriel takes the chair and brings Brescia back to + 15 (68-53) while the Neapolitans have to deal with a foul situation that is not easy. Coach Buscaglia is sent off for a double technical foul for protests while Massinburg sinks a Gevi (81-60) without ideas at the third siren. The last 10′ are used only for Tanfoglio, Ghidini and Grassi to make their debut: the game has already been over for a while. (Alberto Banzola)

Brescia: Massinburg 24, Della Valle 17, Gabriel 15.

Naples: Williams 17, Zanotti and Howard 12

The cure for depression in Milan is called the championship, Olimpia strolls to the PalaSerradimigni, digging the decisive furrow in the second and third fractions, with a 32-0 run that directs the game. Sassari holds up for the first 10′, Jones’ talent compensates for the difference in physicality and Bucchi’s team stays in line. The turning point for Milan already comes in the second quarter, when Olimpia intensifies the defensive phase on the Sassari wingers, Dinamo’s direction goes haywire and a flood of steals with Melli protagonist, the result is a prolonged 22-2 break that gives mental soundness to the guests while the hosts completely lose their lucidity. Davies and Cabarrot are a certainty and Milan goes to the locker room for the long break on +24. The expected reaction of the hosts after the break stops on the defensive wall erected by Hines and partners, Messina’s team does not let its guard down, indeed if possible it intensifies even more on the substitutions, constantly reducing Sassari’s confidence; on the other side of the field Cabarrot is a sentence that gives prestige to the offensive phase of Olimpia and the applause of Messina for the triple of 26-63, are the emblem that testifies to the mentality with which the guests presented themselves at the PalaSerradimigni. However, it is forbidden to talk about garbage time for Messina even on +40, see time out after a 4-0 mini break, but the last 15′ of the game only serve to define the final advantage with which Olimpia conquers the Sassari parquet. (Nicola Cascioni)

Sassari: Bendzius 15, Robinson 12, Dowe 11

Milan: Cabarrot 21, Davies, Baron 16

Trento smiles as he scores his second consecutive success, the sixth overall in the league, fueling his playoff ambitions in no small way. Pesaro makes the big voice which in the opening easily triggers Mazzola and Abdur-Rahkman for the first escape on 8-16. Very sweet entry into the field of the forty-year-old Delfino who immediately hits from the corner on his debut of the season, repeating himself two more times shortly after. The former Chemnitz Atkins takes the chair and registers the bianconeri for the match with eight points in quick succession, kicking off with the support of Flaccadori and the energy of captain Forray to an 8-0 run (opening on 20-31 ), broken from Abdur-Rahkman’s class. Shortly before the break, Crawford and Udom ignited the Trentino crowd, riding the wave of the technical foul whistled against Moretti and pushing the bianconeri to -1 (38-39). Back on the parquet Crawford gets up from three points giving his team their first advantage of the evening (41-39 in the 21st minute) but it is Abdur-Rahkman who pushes Carpegna up +6 (43-49), forcing Molin to suspend the match for a minute. In times of need, Forray takes the reins of the game, catalyzing three offensive rebounds and putting six points in an amen (49-51). At the opening of the last quarter, Flaccadori is lucid in finding the target on the counterattack, repeated by the athleticism of a 14-point and 12-rebound Udom in just 26′. Pesaro doesn’t intend to raise the white flag and ignites with flames from Abdur-Rahkman and with a triple from Mazzola’s corner that freezes the hosts. Hot finish: vital triple by Forray for +3 (76-73) then Moretti acts as the needle by scoring two points in a precarious balance and however getting expelled from the other side of the field with a foul in attack added to the second coach in the afternoon. Game, match, meeting for Trento who closes the speech from the line with Forray. (by Roberto Buffa)

Trent: Forray, Flaccadori and Atkins 16.

Pesaro: Moretti 20, Abdur-Rahkman 18, Mazzola 11.