EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2–3) earned a hard-fought 89–78 road win over Zalgiris Kaunas (3–2) on Thursday night in EuroLeague Round 5, overcoming a 16-point deficit and the absence of three key starters — Lorenzo Brown, Josh Nebo, and Zach LeDay.
Playing just 18 hours after a 53-point performance in Munich, Milan looked fatigued early as Zalgiris forward Arnas Butkevicius erupted for 17 points in six minutes, giving the hosts a 29–13 advantage in the second quarter.
But coach Ettore Messina’s team responded with composure and resilience. A 12–0 Milan run, fueled by four consecutive three-pointers from Nico Mannion, Shavon Shields, Marko Guduric, and Pippo Ricci, erased the deficit and shifted the game’s momentum.
Ricci delivered a career-best performance, finishing with 15 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from deep. The forward also helped hold Butkevicius scoreless in the second half while logging a season-high 27 minutes.
Guard Quinn Ellis was the difference-maker late. The 21-year-old scored nine of his 15 points in the final quarter, including a crucial three-pointer and a fast-break layup that extended Milan’s lead to six. He shot 7-for-9 from the field after entering the game averaging just 2.5 points on 20% shooting.
Milan’s balanced scoring was key, with six players finishing in double digits. Shields, Ricci, Ellis, and Devin Booker each had 15 points, while Guduric added 14. Booker also contributed seven rebounds and steady interior defense.
Zalgiris, which had dominated the boards early, was limited to just one offensive rebound in the fourth quarter after collecting 16 through the first three. The Lithuanian side shot 44.4% inside and 37.5% from three, but turnovers and Milan’s perimeter accuracy — 12-of-21 from beyond the arc — proved costly.
The victory also carried emotional weight for Milan, nearly a year after blowing a 27-point lead in Kaunas. This time, the Italian club flipped the script, producing a 27-point swing of its own to snap a three-game losing streak.
Milan returns home next week to host Valencia, while Zalgiris travels to face Barcelona in Round 6.
