By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid has been dominating the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this season, enduring only two defeats in 21 rounds.
However, hampered by injuries to two key players, Chus Mateo’s side delivered its worst performance against Monaco on the road.
In Gaston Medecin Hall, Sasa Obradovic‘s team took command from the start, dealing the defending champions their third and most challenging defeat of the season, culminating in a final score of 98-74.
Jordan Loyd led the charge with an impressive 19 points in just 18 and a half minutes for the victorious team, but stealing the spotlight was the standout performance from Mike James. The American not only contributed 15 points but also showcased his playmaking prowess with a remarkable 12 assists and an impressive five steals, all while limiting turnovers to just two, concluding the match with an exceptional PIR of 32. Alongside him, the tenacious Alpha Diallo added 14 points, and Donatas Motiejunas chipped in with 13.
Monaco stopped Facundo Campazzo to seven points and just one assist, while on the Real Madrid side, only three players achieved double-digit scoring, as Dzanan Musa scored 12 points, Rudy Fernandez added 11, and Fabien Causeur 10 points. Walter Tavares and Sergio Llull missed the game through injuries.
Real Madrid found themselves yielding more points in a single game than any other this season, counting only regular 40 minutes of play. Monaco also had an outstanding offensive performance, highlighted by an impressive 25 assists.
Chus Mateo’s team quickly fell into a significant deficit, and by the end of the second quarter, the Monegasques had built a lead of 20 points. The gap widened to 29 points in the third quarter, briefly in the fourth, and it wasn’t until the last few minutes that there was some relaxation in the French team, as Real Madrid managed to halt the bleeding and somewhat narrow the margin.
“Not our day”
“Today was not our day. Monaco defended very well and surpassed us. They played a very physical game and were able to disrupt our game plan. It was a great performance on their part. We didn’t play as well, didn’t pass as effectively, didn’t execute as well, and didn’t defend one-on-one as well as in other games. In this league, with such strong teams, this can happen when you’re not at 100%,” Real Madrid’s head coach Chus Mateo said after the game.
Obradovic dedicated the win to Dejan Milojevic, who suddenly passed away at the age of 46.
“This was a brilliant victory. We played as a team at a high level for the full 40 minutes. This game and the win are something I dedicate to my very good friend, Dejan Milojević, who passed away unexpectedly. I continue to reflect on it, and my thoughts are with him and his family. I cannot be overly happy. It’s not about this game at all. It’s a huge loss for his family, friends, and for Serbian basketball as well,” the Serbian coach said
Photo credit: euroleaguebasketball.net