By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
AS Monaco got a bit of a payback for their 2023 semifinal loss to Olympiacos Piraeus by beating the Reds 85 – 77 at home in an intense clash. Thanks to this win the Monegasque side improved to 7 – 4 while their opponents dropped to 6-5.
Mike James led Monaco with 24 points plus six assists. He also hit the go-ahead triple for the 76 – 73 and then drained free throws that put his team up 81 – 75 with 22 seconds remaining.
Keeping things cool
“Just trying not to force things and stay patient,” James said on his mindset. “I was trying to wait and take shots that I felt I can make and I was kind of open. At the end, I stayed aggressive and it worked out.”
Elie Okobo contributed 11 points to pass the 1,000-mark in his EuroLeague career while grabbing five rebounds for a Monaco team that was without guards Jordan Loyd and Terry Tarpey. “Let’s get 1,000 more,” he said after the match.
Isaiah Canaan had 20 points for Olympiacos, dropping 17 of them in the first half to keep Olympiacos close to Monaco while the hosts held a steady lead until Shaq McKissic made it 38 – 39 at the break in his return to action after Round 1. Thomas Walkup scored 16 points and Alec Peters contributed 15 points.
“If I have to make a conclusion is that, as I told you, that we had to protect the ball,” Olympiacos coach Giorgos Bartzokas said. “We started the third quarter giving three turnovers in a row. The second issue was the offensive rebound. It was a tight game and in the end we missed two free throws and baskets by Mike James decided the game.”
Olympiacos, that was missing guard Nigel Williams-Goss, proceeded to go up 60 – 65 early in the fourth period but Monaco responded with a 7 – 0 run. After several lead changes, the hosts established an advantage down the stretch thanks to James.
“This is a pretty tough game and we expected a tough game,” Monaco coach Sasa Obradovic said. “In the end we did some great things on defense first and we scored some easy points on offense.”