By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With three minutes left in the game, the score was tied, but when all was said and done, AS Monaco got a 10-point road win over LDLC ASVEL.
However, the final 87-77 doesn’t accurately describe the game’s story, as ASVEL pushed for 37 minutes for the upset.
Elie Okobo with 16 points and Alpha Diallo with 15 were Monaco’s top scorers, which also got 13 points by Jaron Blossomgame plus 12 by Mike James.
As Diallo said referring also to the two upcoming home games left for Monaco: “It’s always a tough match-up against ASVEL, I am glad we got the win and we have to clean up some things. We have to do a little bit more to close up the season with wins”.
On the losing side, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot with 23 points, Edwin Jackson and Joffrey Lauvergne with 13 each, and Nando De Colo with nine points and nine assists game a valiant fight.
The bottom line remains that Monaco had a 21-11 record and still aims for the second spot of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague final regular season standings, while ASVEL with a 7-25 record is second to last.
A roller coaster
Despite a strong start by Monaco, which led by 11 after the end of the first period (23-12), the pride of ASVEL turned things around.
The hosts trailed by four (44-40) at halftime and jumped to a 61-50 lead in the third period, which ended with two threes by Okobo (61-56).
The dogfight continued and the score was tied at 71-71 after a three by Paris Lee with 3.24 left in the game and everything was possible.
“I am frustrated because I think we didn’t give everything we had, we fought but it was not enough”, said ASVEL coach Pier Poupet and he had a reason.
In the most crucial juncture of the game, Monaco got a quick 5-0 run which was extended to 9-0 after an unsportsmanlike foul to De Colo (80-71) and then to 13-0 (83-71) and the game was over.
“I liked the win the most because it was not easy”, said Monaco coach Sasa Obradovic with a smile after the final buzzer.
Photo credit: EuroLeague