Euroleague: CSKA Moscow-Milan 76-84

 In a record season, Ax Milano defeats another field that has become taboo and sees the Playoffs one step away thanks to 19 victories in 29 days: after winning in Istanbul, Tel Aviv and Madrid, Olimpia also crushes Moscow for the first time since 2011, beating CSKA in second place by 84-76.

A dominated game, conducted for all 40 'with an always careful defense (Hines decisive in the painting with 6 rebounds, 3 blocks and a lot of presence) and riding the vein of an irrepressible Punter (32, maximum in career, with 5/9 from three and 9/9 to the free).

"I simply have to thank my teammates for having found me free - the American explains warmly -. The secret of victory? We have always kept our cool".

A fairytale match.

Milan starts very strong, taking advantage of CSKA's defensive amnesia: a partial of 25-6 in the first quarter gives it 20 points ahead (30-10).

The Russians react with pure pride with James (21 but 3/12 from three) and Shengelia (11 in the second quarter, 20 total) and fall back to -5, but 8 consecutive Punter sets the score at the interval at 47-34.

The script is the same in the second half: Milan also returns to +15 at the end of the third quarter, the CSKA recovers up to -6 (68-74), but Olimpia resists until the siren, despite the cheering of the Moscow public present at the arena.

"We played an excellent game - explains coach Messina, who was rewarded together with Hines before the duo with a matryoshka, a tribute to the years spent in Moscow and the many trophies won -, we are happy and let's go on like this".