Shavon Shields’ career night in Moscow, a memorable outing

Shavon Shields’ game against Khimki in Moscow can be easily considered the best of his career at the EuroLeague level. In fact, he his personal records of points (26) and index rating (34). He has had three steals and zero turnovers and had to guard Alexey Shved, one of the toughest opponents you can face in Europe, for several minutes. It’s not only the volume of numbers. Shields played a near-perfect offensive game making 10 of his 11 shots from the field as well as going 2-for-2 from the line. Six two-pointer made is not a personal best. But he had never managed to hit them with just six attempts. Just as it never happened that five shots were enough to make four bombs. Even more relevant is that he scored all the first 10 shots that he attempted and missed the eleventh. Or that 18 of his 26 points were produced in the first half. Or finally that all these numbers have been accumulated in just 25 minutes of action.

Here’s the Shields’ game

He entered the court, replacing Vlado Micov with 5:17 to play in the first quarter with Olimpia up 12-8.

After two minutes, he hits a long two-point jumper

With 35 seconds left in the period, on a Kyle Hines’ assist, he makes the first triple of his games. He closed the first period with 5 points and a single error, a foul that allowed Greg Monroe to complete a three-point play. The score with him on the court is 16-12 Milan.

Early in the second quarter, he comes off a Hines’ screen, gets the ball from Vlado Micov and makes a mid-range jumper.

With Milan ahead 28-23, Michael Roll leads the break, kicks out to Shields. Taking advantage of being alone, he stops on a dime and makes a three.

With Olimpia up 35-25, Roll from the corner kicks out for Shields. The defense is closing out, so he puts the ball on the floor and makes a very complicated and still elegant floater with 0.1 seconds left in the shot-clock.

With Khimki back within one, he receives a hand-off pass from Hines. OIimpia’s center sets a pick and creates the room necessary for him to shoot a three.

With five seconds left in the second, on a pick and pop play, he receives the ball from Malcolm Delaney and makes another three. At the half, he has 18 points, 4-for-4 from three.

In the fourth period, 72-68 Milan is the score, he attacks Jordan Mickey off the dribble, stops and makes a jumper.

With 6:28 left in the game, Olimpia ahead by eight, he reads the mismatch and post Errick McCollum up, to shoot the fade-away over his head.

With Milan up by 10, he steals the ball at midcourt and goes for a left-handed lay-up. It’s the last basket of his extraordinary game.