First defeat of the season for Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari, beaten 72-81 by La T Tecnica Gema Montecatini in their home debut in Serie A2.

At PalaSerradimigni, the Biancoblù were undone above all by a difficult start, as the Tuscans built a substantial lead in the first twenty minutes. Sassari fought back after the break and got to within two points in the fourth quarter, but at the decisive moment Montecatini regained its composure and took home the first two points of its season.

After the 68-70 win over Urania Milano, Luca Vitali’s team has now suffered its first defeat.

Montecatini make a strong start: 28-16 after the first quarter

The game immediately swings in the visitors’ favor.

Montecatini find their rhythm from beyond the arc and consistently hurt a Dinamo side that, by contrast, struggle to find offensive flow. Harris, Acunzo and Bargnesi immediately bring energy to Marco Andreazza’s team, while Sassari try to stay in touch mainly through Alessandro Grande, Bryce Nze and Samuele Aromando.

The first quarter ends 16-28, with the visitors holding a twelve-point lead.

The Biancoblù continue to struggle in the second quarter. Montecatini maintain their high shooting percentages and capitalize on several Dinamo mistakes to extend their lead further.

At halftime, the scoreboard reads 31-47.

Dinamo trail by 21, then fight back

Things get even tougher at the start of the third quarter.

Montecatini keep pushing and, with Barnett, stretch their lead to 21 points at 33-54, their biggest lead of the night.

That is when Dinamo finally manage to shift gears. Aromando scores some important points, Riismaa becomes more involved offensively, and Vitali’s team try to raise their defensive intensity.

Sassari win the third quarter 20-15 and enter the final ten minutes trailing 51-62.

The deficit is still substantial, but much more manageable than it was just a few minutes earlier.

Riismaa brings Sassari back to within two

The momentum shifts completely in the fourth quarter.

Dinamo increase the pressure and, led above all by Joonas Riismaa, gradually cut the deficit. The Estonian scores important points around the rim, while new signing Sean Flood, making his debut in the Biancoblù jersey, also scores his first basket.

Sassari first get within seven, then four, and finally, just over four minutes from the buzzer, Riismaa makes it 67-69.

PalaSerradimigni is now fully back in a game that had seemed all but lost after the 21-point deficit.

Bargnesi halts the comeback as Montecatini close out an 81-72 win

At the most crucial moment, however, Montecatini find the response that decides the game.

Alessandro Bargnesi hits from long range to make it 67-72, stopping Sassari’s comeback. Barnett and Harris then help the visitors restore a comfortable lead.

Grande makes one more attempt to reopen the game with a three-pointer in the final minute, but Montecatini stay composed at the free-throw line and put the game beyond doubt.

At the buzzer, the score is Dinamo Sassari 72, Gema Montecatini 81.

The quarter-by-quarter scores sum up the two phases of the game well:

Dinamo Sassari-Montecatini 72-81 Q1: 16-28 Q2: 15-19 Q3: 20-15 Q4: 21-19

After allowing 47 points in the first twenty minutes, Sassari therefore win the second half 41-34, but cannot complete the comeback.

Absences and a shortened rotation for Luca Vitali

Dinamo came into their first home game still dealing with several roster issues.

Jeff Brooks was out with the flu, while Michele Vitali, although listed on the scoresheet, was not yet ready to play after his hand injury. Riccardo Pisano was also still unavailable.

Sean Flood did make his debut, having arrived during the week to strengthen the backcourt following the termination of the agreement with Brandon Young.

This situation does not erase the struggles shown, particularly in the first half of the game, but it continues to limit the rotations available to coach Vitali.

First defeat for the new-look Dinamo

After their last-second win in Milan, Dinamo had to concede defeat in their first game of the season in front of the Sassari crowd.

The fightback in the second half remains a positive, with the team able to go from 21 points down to within two, but they must also avoid starts like the one against Montecatini.

Minute-by-minute coverage and game statistics are also available on our page dedicated to the Dinamo Sassari-Montecatini live score.

For Luca Vitali’s team, the next game will be another important test: after one win and one defeat in the first two rounds, their journey through the long Serie A2 regular season has only just begun.