Olimpia Milano, without Mirotic, deepens Barça's wound at the Palau

Olimpia Milano dominated from start to finish at the Palau to inflict Barcelona's first defeat at home since January 13. From that setback against Efes to a new disappointment against Ettore Messina's team, which appeared without the injured Nikola Mirotic and Billy Baron. The fourth in the last five games for the Blaugrana, without resources to stop Devon Hall (21 points) and Nicolo Melli (16), decisive in the last quarter. [Narrative and statistics (86-90)]

The absence of Mirotic, who had relapsed from his injury to the Achilles tendon in his left foot that already sidelined him during the first half of last year, did not weigh on the Italian team, very focused all night despite the three consecutive defeats that had been relegated to the penultimate place in the table. “It was a matter of heart, attitude and greater discipline. We played simpler, so I feel very happy with the team's performance,” Messina said.

The visitors intimidated from the beginning, with great success from the perimeter (5 of 8 in triples) that led to a 12-27 in just eight minutes. The hot wrist of Shavon Shields (17 points at halftime, including five triples) made the Barça fans numb, deprived of Jabari Parker, who was out at the last minute due to gastroenteritis.

Same as before the Virtus

Roger Grimau's second timeout (30-43, min.15) did not alter the landscape either (40-51, half-time). Too static, Barça fueled with a dropper when they were able to connect with Willy Hernangómez or Nico Laprovittola (10 points both in the first half). The bad feelings of nine days ago in Bologna were repeated at the Palau.

After the break, Barça tightened its defenses to get within 59-63, although Diego Floccadori and Stefano Tonut prevented the comeback from being completed (59-68).. In that stretch, errors in free throws weighed too heavily on the locals.

Despite repeated interruptions from the referees, Barça maintained the physical standard and found Darío Brizuela and Jan Vesely in attack (71-77, min.38). However, five consecutive points from Hall, including a great triple, added to a 2+1 from Melli, raised the bar definitively. Nikola Kalinic, with a good contribution from the bench, incomprehensibly lost a clear three-point option when the ball slipped through his hands. The final point in the Palau.