EA7 Emporio Armani Milan endured a tense double-overtime battle to defeat Anadolu Efes Istanbul 97–93 on the road, improving to 4–5 in EuroLeague play.
The visitors led by 13 points early in the fourth quarter but watched the advantage vanish as Efes forced two extra sessions behind a spectacular showing from PJ Dozier.
Dozier delivered a career-high 34 points, carrying the Turkish side through clutch moments. He was flawless in the first half, making all seven of his two-point attempts and adding a three-pointer before halftime. In the closing moments of regulation, he buried a jumper and a triple to tie the game at 74–74, keeping Efes alive.
Shavon Shields answered every blow for Milan. The American forward finished with 24 points, hitting a career-best six three-pointers on eight attempts, along with five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. His three-pointer with 11.7 seconds left in the first overtime forced a second extra period after Efes had taken an 84–81 lead.
Shields opened the second overtime with another triple, giving Milan a lead it would not relinquish.
Zach LeDay also played a major role before leaving late in regulation with an injury. In his return from a long absence, he scored 25 points in 22 minutes, shooting 3-for-4 on twos and 4-for-6 from deep. Quinn Ellis provided 14 points, including four crucial ones in the second overtime, while Marko Guduric added 13.
Leandro Bolmaro orchestrated Milan’s offense efficiently, contributing 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Ettore Messina’s team shot 46.9% from three-point range and 83.3% at the free-throw line, maintaining composure in the critical moments that defined the contest.
Despite Dozier’s brilliance, Efes struggled offensively outside of him, connecting on only 31.3% of their three-point attempts and just 16.7% from beyond the arc by players not named Dozier. Shane Larkin finished with 12 points, while Nigel Hayes-Davis and Erten Gazi were unavailable.
Efes dropped to 3–6 after suffering their fourth straight home defeat, with head coach Igor Kokoskov left searching for answers. Milan’s victory marked its third away win of the campaign, reinforcing its resilience after several narrow losses earlier in the season.
Anadolu Efes will face Virtus Bologna next Tuesday before returning home to play Bayern Munich. Milan, meanwhile, will host ASVEL on Wednesday and Olympiacos on Friday in Rounds 10 and 11.
