Napoli wins the Italian Cup. In the final, they were surprisingly better than Milano by 77:72, causing a real sensation.
Milano started the game slightly better (4:0), but then Napoli played much better and gained a lead they successfully maintained until the end of the first quarter β 24:19. Milano managed to respond promptly at the start of the second quarter with a 7:0 run, but Igor Milicic found a way to restore his team’s more significant advantage by halftime β 43:36.
The Milanese narrowed the gap to three points with an 11:2 run early in the third period (50:47), although it didn’t prove to be a major threat to Napoli, who returned with eight straight points to hold a seven-point lead going into the decisive 10 minutes (60:53). Ettore Messina’s team ‘opened up’ the game completely with three-pointers from Nikola MiroticΒ and Shavon Shields just before the final minute (70:68).
After Shields’ three-pointer for the lead, Jacob Pullen responded with a three-pointer on the other end. Shabazz Napier lost the ball in the crucial possession, which Napoli punished on the other end with free throws, sealing the win in the Italian Cup.
In the defeated team, Nicolo Melli was the top scorer with 20 points and added 8 rebounds. Nikola Mirotic scored 19 points, while Shavon Shields was also in double digits with 10 points.
Sensation! π
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) February 18, 2024
Napoli Basket secured the Italian Cup trophy with a win over Olimpia Milano.π pic.twitter.com/pXg7SwrhYU