By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
On paper, Nick Calathes could have played against Anadolu Efes, but even with the Greek point guard still resting from the injury that prevented him so far from playing this season, Monaco didn’t have any problems against Anadolu Efes.
The final score was 94-75 as Monaco closed 2025 with a 12-6 record, near the top of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings, while Efes dropped to 10-8.
Mike James with 14 points and seven assists led the charge, Jordan Loyd also scored 14, Mam Jaiteh had 12, while Jaron Blossomgame added 11 points.
“When we play defense like that, when we are physical, we are a great team”, said Loyd after the final buzzer to EuroLeague TV.
For the losing side, Dan Oturu with 14 points, and the duo of Darius Thompson and Elijah Bryant with 12 points each tried their best.
Monaco from the get-go
After a 15-4 start for Monaco, Efes trimmed the lead to six (19-13), however, the guests couldn’t score after that as Monaco closed the first period up by nine points (22-13).
The hosts extended the lead to 13 (29-16), and Efes reacted with a 4-0 run (29-20), only for Monaco to dominate on the way to a 47-30 lead as Mike James took over with nine points in the period.
The first half ended with Efes trailing 49-34 and having just 2/12 threes. The second half started with Monaco stretching the lead to 19 (56-37) with Mam Jaiteh reaching the 10-point mark and there was no comeback for the guests after that.
To be exact, Efes tried but Monaco kept their distance, closing the third period up by 15 (69-54). Nothing changed in the last period with Monaco pushing their lead to 21 (94-73) and finishing the game.
Photo credit: EuroLeague