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The Bianconeri won a great game 1and they gave everything without ever raising the white flag even in a race-2 in which the expected reaction from the battleship Milano arrived promptly: the reigning Italian champions scored 104 points shooting with very high percentages from every position, but even when they were able to extend their score, Dolomiti Energia never lost heart and played 40 minutes of great concentration, effort and application.
Scoring 93 points and showing off his basketball identity made up of speed of execution, legs and thoughts.
Prentiss Hubb surpassed 20 points scored for the fifth time this season, signing 22 thanks to an 8/17 performance from the field (5/13 from three): Hubb in both matches at the Forum was the player most used by coach Galbiati (30′ of play in game 1, 32′ in the second match) and had important responsibilities in scoring but also in involving his teammates.
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«We impacted the series well – said Prentiss –, now we have to continue playing our basketball based on rhythm and confidence. We can take further steps forward, we can fight for it, we have demonstrated it. The push from the stadium will also be fundamental, our fans will play a key role in such delicate matches: it has happened many times this year and I am sure it will happen again in the playoffs too».
After the “symbolic” basket of game 1, Kamar Baldwin repeated himself with a 22-point performance (8/12 from the field), four rebounds and seven assists, giving rise to a splendid close duel with Shavon Shields: even in the two home matches, the initiatives and baskets of the Juventus number 44 will be one of the factors that will direct the series.
Coach Paolo Galbiati in the press room immediately after the match he gave the impression of already being focused on game 3: «First of all, we have to congratulate Milan: our opponents played a great game, they were good at exploiting their advantages, they displayed a level of physicality that we weren’t able to match.
And then they shot with very high percentages: at halftime Shields was already at 20 points, Melli 8/8 from the field. They are great champions, that’s why they’re here. We have something to reproach ourselves for, but we return to Trento strengthened by two performances of 85 and 93 points scored: now we also count on the push of our fans, on the PalaTrento effect to find energy and inertia in game 3 and game 4».
Race-3 scheduled for Friday evening at 8.45pm is heading towards a thrilling sell-out. Game 4 will instead be played on Sunday 19 May at 6.00 pm
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