Milan holds on for tough win in Kaunas 19

In a game that saw two lead changes and three ties in the fourth quarter alone, AX Armani Exchange Milan escaped from Zalgirio Arena with a 70-74 win over Zalgiris Kaunas in a make-up game from Round 17.

Malcolm Delaney scored a season-high 20 points and Kyle Hines added a double-double on his historic night. The big man posted 11 points and 10 rebounds. His 5 offensive rebounds took him past EuroLeague legend Felipe Reyes to become the competition’s all-time leader in that category with 706. Troy Daniels netted 15 points and Sergio Rodriguez added 10 points and 5 assists.

Lukas Lekavicius led the Zalgiris attack with 16 points and 5 assists and Tyler Cavanaugh posted 13 points in defeat.

Both teams came up short on their first few times up and down the court. While Hines anchored the Milan defense, Delaney got the visitors on the scoreboard first. Edgaras Ulanovas turned things around quickly for Zalgiris with a mid-range basket and a triple. Lekavicius sparked Zalgiris with a floater, a steal, an offensive rebound and free throws as the hosts went ahead 9-2. Sergio Rodriguez and Daniels sandwiched triples around one by Arturas Milaknis as Milan trimmed the gap. Despite free throws by Joffrey Lauvergne, Milan got back-to-back threes by Daniels and Devon Hall to take a 16-17 lead.  Tai Webster gave Zalgiris an 18-17 edge after 10 minutes.

Daniels connected from deep and banked in a floater as Milan went in front. Rodriguez scored on back-to-back possessions to complete a 0-9 run. Lekavicius provided a spark with a three-point play, however, Hines scored inside to make it 23-30 midway through the second quarter. Cavanaugh came up big with a triple on one end and a block at the other. Karolis Lukosiunas added a three and Ulanovas free throws completed an 8-0 run for a 33-32 lead. Delaney responded with a three only to see Lekavicius knot the score and send the teams to halftime at 35-35.

Delaney connected from downtown to open the second-half scoring. The teams traded shots and threes by Cavanaugh and Davide Alviti – the first EuroLeague points of the latter’s career – left the teams tied at 43-43. Delaney scored twice and Zalgiris answered through Lekavicius and Paulius Jankunas. Niels Giffey briefly gave Zalgiris a 49-47 lead before Hines scored on the ensuing possession. Daniels’s fourth triple of the game became a four-point play. Milaknis’ layup made it 51-53 through three quarters.

Baskets by Webster and Lauvergne to start the fourth quarter pushed the hosts in front only to see Bentil sink a three at the other end. Another three by Delaney gave Milan some breathing room. Nicolo Melli bettered Lauvergne’s reverse layup with a three-point play for a 57-62 lead with 7 minutes remaining. Zalgiris roared back to tie it on a reverse layup by Lekavicius. A side-step three by Delaney gave him 20 points and gave Milan a 64-67 advantage with 4 minutes to play. Cavanaugh missed a go-ahead three in the penultimate minute and Rodriguez’s free throws gave Milan a two-possession lead with 1:24 on the clock. Hines scored on the next two possessions and, despite a late three by Cavanaugh, Milan held on for the win.