Facu Campazzo recorded the first double-double of his EuroLeague career to guide Real Madrid to an 88-77 win over Olimpia Milan at Mediolanum Forum on Tuesday.
With leading scorer Luka Doncic sidelined, Camapzzo stepped up with 14 points and a career-high 11 assists for the winners as Real Madrid kept a share of fourth place in the EuroLeague standings. Gustavo Ayon led Real with 15 points off the bench.
Curtis Jerrells led Milan with 18 points plus six assists for Milano who remain third from bottom.
PABLO LASO – REAL MADRID
“It was difficult because we know how much Milan can score from everywhere; they have very good shooters outside and solid big guys, so it was very important for us to keep playing defence for 40 minutes. I think even at the end with a 20-point advantage, we knew we had to stop those three-point lines, those shots, because we always have the scare of them coming back with those three-pointers. So I think we played solid defence and offensively we were able to move the ball well, pass to the open man. We missed some very easy shots, but we also made some tough ones, so I am very happy for the victory.”
SIMONE PIANGIANI – OLIMPIA MILANO
“I think that we tried, but at this moment we are not at this level. It’s so many games that we are playing that right now we are not at the energy to compete with Real. But I think that at the end the approach of the game put us in trouble for all the game. We started with a 10-point [deficit] immediately. We missed some good shots, open shots and gave them the chance to create fast breaks and then it is difficult when they were in rhythm. In the end, the game was like this. If you keep the gap at 9 or 10 points, it’s different. If you go down by 15 or 20, it’s not possible. At the beginning of the game, they blocked 2 or 3 shots and then we panicked a little bit to attack the rim. This lack of confidence killed us.”
