EA7 Emporio Armani Milan used an extraordinary first half to defeat Real Madrid 81-76 at the Forum in Round 26.
Milan's first half was critical to beat Real Madrid
Stats
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 26 of 34
Group Regular Season
w
l
l
w
l
l
w
w
w
l
Milan trailed 10-17 midway through the first quarter. Up to that point, Milan had made 2 of 4 two-pointers and 2 of 6 three-pointers without getting to the foul line, plus 3 assists and 2 turnovers. Real Madrid had been much more effective, making 3 of 4 two-pointers and 2 of 3 three-pointers with 5 assists and 0 turnovers.
Then Shavon Shields rescued the hosts, first with a step-back jumper and then with a three-point play. It was the start of a mammoth 26-2 run in which Nikola Mirotic took center stage. He came off the bench and immediately delivered, making 4 of 4 three-pointers and getting 14 of those points. By the time Maodo Lo struck from downtown, Milan led 36-19 and had been in one of the biggest runs in EuroLeague history.
By halftime, Milan had grabbed twice as many rebounds as its opponents, 26-13. The hosts pulled down 11 offensive rebounds and only allowed Real to get 5 of those. In the final 14 minutes of the first half, Real made just 1 of 9 two-pointers (11.1% 2FG) and 2 of 11 three-pointers (18.2% 3FG), getting just 4 assists against 7 turnovers. Milan buried 6 of 9 three-pointers (66.7% 3FG) in those minutes, leading to a 48-29 margin at the break.
"I said nothing [at the break] because the less I talk, the better it is," Coach Messina said at halftime. "We just need to continue to play with the same intensity on both ends: move the ball fast but more important, defend like we did in the first 20 minutes."
Milan ended up outrebounding Real 40-31, finishing the game with a lower PIR (84) than its opponent (85) despite leading 60-24 in that category at halftime. Mirotic made a critical turnaround jumper with 2:30 left and Shields put the victory on ice with free throws with 19.8 seconds remaining. The two players combined for 50 points against Real.
"The team played very, very well in the first half. In the second half, we limited the damage in the third quarter, because on the other side, we had the EuroLeague champions. Then in the fourth quarter I think we were tired and didn't take so many good decisions, but we had very good defense in the last 3-4 minutes," Coach Messina said after the game. "We always created very good situations defensively and on offense, we made free throws and a couple of big plays on the break. I am very happy for the players, they deserved a win like this."
Game Videos
- 00:46
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/13/IWBoHMrxdWEAPDc9yUgbZ9B49UzSkOVV-1734128930684.jpg]()
Zach LeDay: 'My dad was with me tonight'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/r7-EPf12MxY/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cb51b927-3088-4142-8b2c-91cf3d68fe39.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4591db20-39e6-4fc2-9e70-2957477f030e.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A103%3A38]()
Tavares's huge block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:12
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/06/lh3NKJgKsoRRS5VjWLMN3At2WoSrYzEm-1733524421067.jpg]()
Armoni Brooks: 'With this group of guys, I like what we can do'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/28d39112-0379-4ae4-88ae-174de550ea38.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/56086f0e-5438-4076-a0b9-096cfdfc1188.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:37
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/04/K3Zo9aNaqMeByl7yoIFXxxBtjIg9o23U-1733349624292.jpg]()
Fabien Causeur: 'We have to stay humble'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/00c4d0ba-d5ee-4700-8ebb-603a4d73b306.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2a7a1079-5667-40c8-801b-a1fa7dbb9ee9.jpg?crop=879%3A494%3Anowe%3A231%3A112]()
LeDay rejects Kalinic! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/E8gQK5Aon-s/maxresdefault.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Real Madrid | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ef99140b-f57b-4476-9e4b-577caca66d44.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A132%3A228]()
Gabriel Deck with a fine dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fd25e0fc-2355-4a22-9506-622a65137aed.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cbb07da4-47ee-4be4-afa1-0475e093ac96.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Real Madrid | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d43e7ffa-6a22-4c92-8c33-9dba3f8bfdff.jpg?crop=1150%3A647%3Anowe%3A138%3A82]()
Tavares blocks with authority! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/acf76a16-eb28-4607-b086-00fe38095831.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A100%3A62]()
Hezonja with the up and under! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/14e84602-4514-48db-9271-e9531900558a.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A144%3A76]()
Campazzo magic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:07
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/21/4x4ZMJD3kGTTfrJkScIZoCiByqzaZA1y-1732230979539.jpg]()
Facu Campazzo: 'When we play good defense, on offense we are really good'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/hhv20iHb-5Q/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/61_c3OfBC74/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:16
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/21/lpdVKzM6GmGioikX8H8yqU7Fd8AfRXZq-1732227446927.jpg]()
Zach LeDay: 'Basketball is the best job in the world'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0599f23e-58b6-433e-b46f-377d3f82a751.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/15/xypTpEdl5tzfSiGaHG0CRn9G5kpcZGG6-1731709066299.jpg]()
Ettore Messina: 'You have to suffer to win games'
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0277c721-dbd7-4770-82a6-8ff657f5fec5.jpg?crop=1210%3A680%3Anowe%3A67%3A99]()
A massive dunk from Brooks! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/v2UN5hWpeio/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e1f211cb-36be-4c8d-8a31-94fe30fb058b.jpg?crop=635%3A357%3Anowe%3A326%3A72]()
Hezonja dunks over the entire defense! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/12/YGqamKGqOJ1CZyARgCi40atgCbx6ADwD-1731450518806.jpg]()
Mario Hezonja: 'We started to take care of business'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/sSNxEq5naNc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6ec0911e-c34b-442c-aa42-c2c11aedf20e.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b6019cfa-5fb5-4733-8e69-909122e68393.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A109%3A32]()
Tavares says no! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:14
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/07/NCa7Jzq7RqZrQu1I9LNdaNoWYEAhcTdN-1731016659327.jpg]()
Neno Dimitrijevic: 'We did an amazing job'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fba8d3f6-eeb2-4f9a-914f-1a8c4be416a7.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Real Madrid | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e0fc1c74-aa16-4e93-9f49-c3a0285b4074.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A112%3A93]()
Hezonja takes it all the way! Magic Moment
- 01:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/31/HGwtMzCApOgE35n6QXGvnGN8YZpYsNRt-1730416780861.jpg]()
Fabien Causeur: 'We found the right solutions'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/24b272d4-aa46-4393-9565-51b3fe8b3e91.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/OxaAy3jW76I/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Real Madrid | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/67c3bc64-2078-40e4-a741-c4ebd53fc7e2.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A115%3A97]()
Real's ultimate team play! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/aa2b5047-2d81-4286-9463-2cfbba3d7e09.jpg?crop=1249%3A703%3Anowe%3A42%3A82]()
A monster jam by Josh Nebo! Motorola Magic Momen
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/80046ee3-5020-40e6-8eb7-3ea811c9344b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A106%3A38]()
What a play by Leandro Bolmaro! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/54bb91ae-a7f7-4961-908f-c0d02e999ea0.jpg?crop=1236%3A695%3Anowe%3A61%3A41]()
Hezonja beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/CEYiNxJwu9I/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c707c871-ddf5-4b4b-ab16-db7be93b74b4.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Real Madrid | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c91dd297-0402-4696-bfee-0009218a579c.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A91%3A62]()
Nebo's block leads to creative offense! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/00717609-473e-431e-9904-269b08c9db1a.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A150%3A82]()
Campazzo’s behind-the-back assist! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/iep-HGj3XTU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/H9NZH7VoQ98/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:22
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/24/LrkhdoEt6Dq87MDhnYCVUiELhJtKWAS8-1729808468558.png]()
Campazzo superlative pass for Ndiaye dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 01:16
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/24/dZfHi8gkdO3K498GkoWzxdqwVX2wF9Qa-1729803264764.jpg]()
Facu Campazzo: 'Vinicius is awesome, he supports us'
- 00:26
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b97cc3b1-ce4a-4b2e-b351-dc3b1485c47a.jpg?crop=2640%3A1485%3Anowe%3A125%3A118]()
LeDay’s brutal slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/672a2285-10dd-4148-95c7-39600813416c.jpg?crop=926%3A521%3Anowe%3A216%3A86]()
Great alley-oop dunk from Tavares! Motorola Magic Moment
