Venezia — Pallacanestro Cantù: 85:73, Lega A

Venezia beat Cantù 85:73 in the League A on Friday evening. We had backed the home side to win, and the 66 per cent confidence held up. The result keeps them in touch with the top four while Cantù's slide continues.

And here's the thing about this one — Venezia controlled the tempo from the first quarter. They hit eight three-pointers to Cantù's nine, but the difference was in the quality of chances. Cantù had more attempts but couldn't convert when it mattered. By then Venezia were already building a cushion they would not let slip.

The home side pulled away on the boards. They grabbed 37 rebounds to Cantù's 27, with 10 on the offensive end. That second-chance work kept their pressure up. Cantù could not get clean looks because every possession was contested. Their 12 turnovers told the story — too many free points for the hosts.

To be fair, Cantù did not collapse. They stayed within striking distance through the third quarter, but the away end never stopped finding small ways to chip away. Five steals and two blocks from Venezia shut down their rhythm. The coaching staff here know how to adjust, and that showed when the game needed it most.

What the numbers mean is straightforward. Venezia sit fourth with 19 wins from 28 games. Cantù are 14th with nine victories. This was not a statement win, but it was the kind of performance that keeps you breathing easy. The away end will be looking for answers, and the home side will be counting their blessings.