Theodore strikes to give Milan victory over Baskonia

Jordan Theodore capped a fine personal performance by scoring the game winner with 0.6 seconds remaining, giving AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan a dramatic 82-83 triumph over Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz. The visiting team led for most of the game but Baskonia fought until the very end, nearly winning on the final buzzer when Toko Shengelia just failed to convert a lay-up. Milan climbs off the foot of the standings by moving to 6-13, and Baskonia drops two games off the playoffs places at 8-11. Theodore excelled throughout, finishing with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals, while Andrew Goudelock also scored 16 points and Arturas Gudaitis combined 12 points and 7 rebounds. Mindaugas Kuzminskas added 10 for the winners. Shengelia led Baskonia’s efforts with a double-double of 17 points and 12 assists, and Jayson Granger registered 15 points and 6 assists. Rodrigue Beaubois scored 13, and Johannnes Voigtmann added 10.

Baskonia raced ahead as Beaubois scored 5 in a 9-2 tear to start the game, but Milan came straight back as Theodore and Kuzminskas had three-point plays and Vladimir Micov converted a pair of triples in a 2-12 run. The visiting offense kept on moving as Theodore and Goudelock both connected from downtown to extend the lead, but Kevin Jones tied it up at 22-22 with a three-pointer in the opening play of the second quarter. Arturas Gudaitis scored twice from close range to get Milan back ahead, and Dairis Bertans netted a triple and driving lay-up to cancel out Voigtmann’s deep three and easy dunk. A slick driving lay-up from Curtis Jerrells was followed by another Voigtmann triple, and although a Shengelia dunk brought Baskonia closer, Milan raced clear again with more triples from Goudelock and Kuzminskas, and a big dunk from Kaleb Tarczewski completed a 0-10 run to make it 36-47 at half-time.

Janis Timma opened the second half with a triple for Baskonia but Milan soon got moving again as Tarczewski slammed while Micov and Goudelock both made triples. Tarczewski scored a tough lay-up to make it 47-59 as the visitors continued to impress, and after Granger ended Baskonia’s drought with a triple Jerrells did the same and Gudaitis laid-up for a 51-64 lead. Granger made another three before both offenses stalled and the third quarter ended 56-65. The final period got underway with a Matt Janning triple but Bertans threw down a fastbreak slam and Theodore sank a huge triple to keep Milan comfortable. Beaubois’s three-pointer, a Jones lay-up and Granger’s floater made it 66-72, but Goudelock dropped in a mid-range strike to settle Milan. Granger’s free throws, Shengelia’s tip-in and Timma’s triple brought Baskonia back to 75-76 with two minutes left. After Gudaitis’s free throw Shengelia’s dunk tied it at 77-77, and then Goudelock made three free throws but Beaubois levelled it again from long range. Theodore made a free throw, Beaubois laid up to send Baskonia ahead but in a dramatic finish Theodore drove inside to lay-up off the glass. Baskonia had one last chance but Shengelia’s lay-up alley-oop rolled off the rim and Milan took the win.