The Italian side recovered from a 12-point deficit in the first half to prevail in a tense finish
Shorthanded Milan roars back to get vital road win over Partizan, 81-88
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan celebrated an 81-88 win at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in Round 10 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and improved to 4-6, while the Serbian team dropped to 2-8 after suffering a sixth defeat in a row.
Nikola Mirotic paced Milan with a game-high 19 points, while Nico Mannion and former Partizan power forward Zach LeDay chipped in with 13 each. Armoni Brooks added 10 points for the visitors, who bounced back from a tough 105-101 overtime loss at ALBA Berlin earlier this week.
At the other end, Brandon Davies and Sterling Brown sank 17 points apiece and Carlik Jones added 12 points for Partizan, which suffered yet another late meltdown, allowing the opposition to snatch victory in a dramatic finish.
Game Videos
Clearly lacking confidence after a series of losses, Partizan made a jittery start and allowed the visitors, who were missing key players in Stefano Tonut, Josh Nebo and Shavon Shields, to take a 9-14 lead early on. The hosts then found some rhythm on offense and turned the tide to lead 38-26 in the second quarter, before Milan replied with a 0-12 run to level the score.
Partizan nosed ahead 42-38 at halftime and held on to its slender advantage throughout the third quarter, as the improved form of Davis and Brown facilitated a 65-64 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes of a thrilling contest.
Roared on by fervent home crowd support, Partizan stayed in the driver’s seat until Mirotic sank one from deep and Giampaolo Ricci followed up with an audacious triple off the glass to give Milan the lead for good, 76-78. Partizan played catch-up for the rest of the contest and missed several chances to force the final twist. Ice-cool shooting from the foul line saw Milan race through the finish line emphatically, leaving Partizan rooted in 16th place after yet another scathing defeat on its home court.