By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Jordan Loyd had one of the best games of his career, AS Monaco knew that they had to get the win over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and they did it in style.
The final score was 86-74 and Loyd had a playoff performance for the ages as the quarterfinals series between the two teams is now tied at 1-1.
Monaco’s guard scored a new career-high of 33 points, 27 points in his first 20 minutes of action, and 13 of them during the third period when the game was decided.
“We know this is just one game and we did what we were supposed to do”, said Loyd after the final buzzer. “There was a lot of disrespect in this first game and we didn’t play the way we should, but this is going to be a long series”.
Yakuba Ouattara had 12 points, Elie Okobo and Mike James added 11 points each and things were easy for the hosts.
Wade Baldwin had 17 points and Lorenzo Brown 16 for Maccabi but it was far from enough with his team committing 17 turnovers and Darrun Hilliard getting ejected with two technical fouls. Baldwin also got a second “T” and got ejected near the end of the game, making a gesture towards the refs implying they got paid. In total six techical fouls were awarded throughout the game to Maccabi.
After leading just by one (42-41) at halftime, Monaco dominated the third period and entered the last 10 minutes of action leading by 13 (67-54).
The crescendo continued with the hosts getting a 17-point advantage (73-56) after a three by Okobo.
A three by John DiBartolomeo made the score 78-70 with less than four minutes left, but Monaco answered back and after a three by Loyd the score was 84-72.
Maccabi still has the advantage
However, Maccabi with two games coming in Tel Aviv, still has the advantage and with two home wins, they will make it to the Final Four.
“This game shows what damage we got by playing the French Cup final two days before Game 1 against Maccabi”, said Monaco coach Sasha Obradovic. “Without any preparation, it happened what happened and today it was a completely different game. It’s going to be really hard to play in Tel Aviv and we have to be mentally ready”.
“We go there for a war and we have to be ready”, added Yakuba Ouattara.
“We fought hard and offensively we have to be calmer, but I am always confident when I have those guys with me”, stated Maccabi coach Oded Kattash about his players and what his team has to do at home.