By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After losing at the start of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague double week to Partizan Mozzart Bet in overtime, AS Monaco bounced back with a hard-fought 79-83 victory in Kaunas.
Mike James, who moved up into third place all-time in scoring past Juan Carlos Navarro, led the winning team with 25 points. With PIR of 26, he also moved to third in the all-time list in PIR, surpassing former teammate Kyle Hines.
Alpha Diallo had a good all-around game with 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists for a PIR of 24. Jaron Blossomgame added 13 points, while Elie Okobo added 12.
“A lot of heart, a lot of hustle, we fought hard. You got to get wins on the road somewhere, we got one tonight,” Mike James said after the match.
Rolands Smits had a double-double for Zalgiris with 13 points and 11 rebounds for a PIR of 20. Tomas Dimsa scored 14 points, while Edgaras Ulanovas and Keenan Evans added 10 each.
Monaco led through most of the first half, with the advantage of the visiting team reaching ten points at a maximum during the final moments of the second period. Zalgiris stayed close, and midway through the third quarter turned the score around with an 11-0 run. However, Monaco got back ahead in the fourth period with a 7-2 run. Jaron Blossomgame then hit the three-pointer entering the last two minutes for a score of 68-74 in favor of Obradovic‘s team, but it wasn’t over. Zalgiris fought until the last breath, but couldn’t find the way for another comeback, and Monaco prevailed.
Photo: euroleaguebasketball.net