Barça 84-82 AX Armani Exchange Milan: Into the Euroleague final!
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Barça 84-82 AX Armani Exchange Milan: Into the Euroleague final!

Saras Jasikevicius' team take a nail biting win thanks to a late score from Corey Higgins

A victory worth its weight in gold. Barça have beaten AX Armani Exchange Milan 84-82 in a game that was initially dominated by the blaugranes before the Italians mounted a comeback in the second half. After a poor third quarter, the blaugranes came back in the final quarter to make it to their first Euroleague final in 11 years. 

Good start from the blaugranes 

Barça started the game well, creating opportunities on offense that led to a 27-24 lead at the end of the first quarter. With Pau Gasol in excellent form, helped by Mirotic, the blaugranes stretched ahead with a 32-26 advantage after 12 minutes. The Italian side rallied but Jasikevicius' team held a healthy 51-42 lead at half time. 

Poor third quarter 

Barça did not start the second half in the best of fashions. The Italians fought back and managed to level things up before taking a 58-57 lead in the 26th minute. Milan grew more confident and their advantage went out to eight points at 69-61. Nevertheless, the blaugranes maintained their composure to end the quarter just 71-67 down. 

Higgins decides encounter

The last 10 minutes were a tight affair with both sides having chances to take the initiative. With just 5 minutes remaining Barça regained the lead with both sides making mistakes. Corey Higgins scored a basket with less than a second remaining to make the final score 84-82 and book the blaugranes a place in the final for the first time in 11 years. Sunday's opponents will be Andolu Efes, the Turkish side standing between Barça and a third Euroleague title. 

MATCH STATS:

Barça, 84
AX Armani Exchange Milan, 82

Barça: Higgins (11), Abrines (6), Calathes (17), Mirotic (21) y Davies (2) –starting five-, Hanga (2), Bolmaro (4), Smits (3), Gasol (10), Oriola (-), Kuric (8) and Claver (-). 

AX Armani Exchange Milan: Leday (8), Micov (14), Delaney (9), Shields (13) y Hines (4) –starting five-, Punter (23), Roll (-), Rodriguez (11), Tarczewski (-), Brooks (-), Evans (-) and Datome (-).

 

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