By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite mishandling a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, AS Monaco prevailed in Fernando Buesa Arena on Friday.
Jaron Blossomgame was the difference-maker with an offensive rebound off a missed three-pointer by Mike James. With time running out, his putback jam shaped the 77-75 victory against Baskonia.
“Crazy ending,” the 30-year-old forward shared his excitement after the game-winning effort, only his second bucket of the night, “We kind of let it get away from us at the end. We had a comfortable lead and they made shots. We remained focused. We trusted in what we did.”
Returning to Vitoria-Gasteiz and his home through his debut in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, James scored a season-high 28 points behind 10/20 from the field, including five triples. Eight rebounds and five assists shaped a game-high performance index rating of 29. He tallied half of his points in the third period.
“I think we were a little bit more aggressive coming out [in the second half]. I think we got some offensive rebounds, moved the ball, and found open shots as well,” was the immediate reaction of the 33-year-old guard, “Just sharing the ball and making shots.”
Alpha Diallo chipped in 13 points for the team guided by Sasa Obradovic. John Brown III put in eight points, eight rebounds, and two steals. The visitors snapped a two-game losing streak and went up to 6-4 in the Regular Season with a third win on the road. Also, a fourth win in a row versus Baskonia over the last two seasons. Jordan Loyd and Mouhammadou Jaiteh did not suit up for the Round 10 affair.
“I have some complaints about the end of the game. Tactically, we agreed to do something different,” mentioned Obradovic, “Great win. In this gym, it is always hard to play. We kept concentration in the game. I expect us to be better from game to game.”
Coming off a back injury, Markus Howard did not start and picked up a third foul early in the second quarter. The Marquette product still ended up packing a team-high 18 points. His fourth triple of the evening knotted the contest at 75-75 with 6.4 seconds on the clock. “We wanted to foul. We did not Howard to get in a situation to shoot the ball. We missed this. Fortunately, in a spectacular way, we finished the game,” Obradovic referred to the defensive effort allowing the late three-pointer.
Vanja Marinkovic had 15 points as his side fell to 5-5 after four consecutive wins. Missing the previous continental outing due to an illness, Tadas Sedekerskis bounced back expanding his double-digit PIR streak to all nine games played of the season behind 13 points and seven rebounds. He registered a team-high PIR of 19. Facing his former team, EuroLeague’s PIR leader Chima Moneke fell shy of a double-digit outing for the first time in the 2023-24 season and instead was held to zero.
“It was a tough, close game. One ball decided it in the last offense,” recapped Montenegrin play-caller Dusko Ivanovic, “But before [the last play], I think our offense was not very good.”
Sidelined for one month, Nikos Rogkavopoulos has been working on recovering from a calf injury. Slowed down by a back injury, Nico Mannion did not leave the bench.
Olympiacos and Valencia are up next
Leading France’s Betclic Elite with an 11-1 record, La Roca Team resumes action on Tuesday against Le Mans at Antares. And in a quick turnaround into a EuroLeague home game opposite Olympiacos on Thursday.
Baskonia visits Valencia next Friday after attempting to improve to 6-5 in Spain’s Liga Endesa with a potential win versus BAXI Manresa in Buesa Arena on Sunday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net