By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Monaco went to Barcelona with a perfect 2-0 record, however playing at home the hosts needed this win more and they got it much easier than expected.
The final score was 86-71 after a competitive game only for the first 22 minutes or so, with both teams sharing now a 2-1 record and Crvena Zvezda being the only one left with a perfect 3-0 record in the standings.
Kevin Punter with 21 points led the charge, Jabari Parker had 16, Nicolas Laprovittola added 13 points, and Jan Vesely scored 10.
“A good and comfortable win, credit to Monaco, but we had to do our business”, said Punter after the game adding that he is “still adjusting, taking things day by day”.
For the losing side, which is still missing Nick Calathes, Elie Okobo had 13 points, Mike James 11 on 2/9 FG, Alpha Diallo scored 12 and Mam Jaited added 10 points. On his return to his old team, Jordan Loyd contributed four points.
A strong third quarter
Barcelona started the game strongly, building a 26-16 lead after a three by Laprovittola. However, the first period ended with Giorgos Papagiannis scoring (26-18) on what proved to be the start of an 11-1 run which tied the game at 27.
With 72 seconds left in the first half, Monaco trailed by two (41-39), but Barcelona ended the first 20 minutes of action with a 6-0 run to create again an eight-point cushion (47-39) with Punter delivering 13 points in 12 minutes of action.
Monaco had 3/11 threes and despite an early effort by Mike James with a 5-0 run to close the gap at the start of the third period (47-44), Barcelona led even by 18 (67-49) after a 20-5 run with two minutes left in the quarter.
The two teams entered the last 10 minutes of the game with the score 71-54 in favor of the hosts and very little things could change until the end.
To be exact thanks to a three by Dario Brizuela Barcelona led by 20 (74-54) and the game was over. “Ι know we can be better but now we have to deal with inconsistency”, admitted Monaco coach Sasa Obradovic.
Photo credit: EuroLeague