By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
FC Barcelona struggled in a game with constant changes in the lead but managed to retain its perfect streak with an 85-81 overtime win against AS Monaco on the road in their first-ever Turkish Airlines EuroLeague meeting for Round 4.
Brandon Davies kept Barcelona on board with one of his best performances in EuroLeague to date, after scoring 27 points, along with 10 rebounds and 4 assists and having a key role in the extra five-minute period.
Nikola Mirotic posted 14 points and 5 rebounds for the visitors, Nicolas Laprovittola had 12 while Nick Calathes registered another double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
After trailing 35-31 at halftime, Barcelona got back on track in the third quarter to take the lead for the first time in the game. Although the pace significantly decreased in the final period and Barca held on to a small lead, Mike James (16 points) and Leo Westermann (10 points) restored the lead for Monaco after hitting back-to-back threes. No team could hold on to a lead despite plenty of pairs of free throws in the final two minutes, sending the game to overtime.
“Monaco is clearly trying to make the playoffs. People coming in, it is going to be difficult. I didn’t prepare my team. The guys responded, this is the best thing. I like this type of game in which you pull the game out of nothing, but we must play better because this double-week has been good with the 2-0 but hasn’t been good basketball-wise”, commented Sarunas Jasikevicius after the game.
Will Thomas had 15 points and 9 rebounds as Monaco suffered its second straight defeat this week, after also losing to Real Madrid in Round 3 to fall to a 2-2 record. They will face Baskonia on the road next Friday with hopes to bounce back.
On the other hand, Barca looks to keep up its winning streak when they face Zenit St Petersburg at home next Friday.
Photo: EuroLeague