By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A great start proved to be enough for Real Madrid which prevailed over Monaco (94-86) and climbed to a 2-1 record, while the guests suffered their first defeat of the season in the EuroLeague. However, it was Mike James who stole the show with 24 points, nine assists, and four steals.
Monaco proved once again that they are not easy prey, but Madrid opened the game with a 30-12 first-quarter lead, that climbed even to 25 points (44-19).
Monaco reacted just after that with James leading the way. They closed the first half trailing just by 12 (51-39) and the third period making it a seven-point game (72-65) with James already scoring 24 points on 6/9 threes, one of them from midcourt.
As coach Zvezdan Mitrovic said: “We woke up in the second quarter. Of course, congratulations to Real Madrid for the win, but that was almost our game. I can’t but be proud of my players”.
The comeback continued with Leo Westermann and Will Thomas making consecutive threes and tying the game (81-81) with four minutes left. Monaco even got an 83-81 lead again thanks to Thomas, but Madrid quickly reacted to get back into the driver’s seat (86-83) and Rudy Fernandez with a three-point dagger put Real Madrid up by five (89-84) with just under a minute left.
In total, the hosts got 18 points by French forward Guerschon Yabusele and the duo of the French guards also delivered. Τhomas Heurtel finished the night with 13 points and seven assists. Fabien Causeur added 12 points while preparing to be a father.
“I am so excited”, he said and added: “I will just go to sleep ASAP because I know that nights are going to be shorter from now on”. He was not the only one who had more than one reason to celebrate, as it was coach Pablo Laso’s birthday.
Thomas with 11 points and Donta Hall with 12 and seven rebounds also had a good game for Monaco.