By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Monaco wants to move up in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings and this version of Baskonia couldn’t do much against them.
The guests got the 87-75 win much easier than the final score suggests and Monaco has a 6-4 record, while Baskonia dropped to 4-6.
Mike James with 16 points and Elie Okobo with 15 were the only double-digit scorers of Monaco which got a lot of things from many players in a solid team effort.
“We got to such a high start that we relaxed a bit in the third quarter, so it’s a lesson”, James said after the game.
Chima Moneke and Tadas Sedekerskis scored 16 points each for Baskonia, which shot just 5/20 threes and couldn’t complete a comeback after a huge effort in the third period that fell short.
“We were not here in the first half, but in the second we fought back, that’s the only thing I can say”, said Baskonia coach Pablo Laso. Once more, Markus Howard didn’t score and finished the game with 0/6 FG.
A show by the guests
Monaco started the game with a 24-7 score in the first period and then things were simple for them. At halftime, the guests lead by 23 (47-24) having almost a double score after having a 27-point advantage (47-20).
After spending 20 minutes totally out of synch, Baskonia suddenly woke up in the third period, trimming the lead to five (60-55) before Okobo closed the period with one made free throw (61-55).
The partial score was 31-14 for Baskonia with Chima Moneke trying his best, but it was simply not enough.
Elie Okobo scored five quick points and Jordan Loyd added two free throws, the lead was back to double digits (68-57) early in the fourth period.
Mike James took over, pushed the lead to 19 points (80-61) and the game was over.
Photo credit: EuroLeague