By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was a big game decided on big plays and Bayern Munich demonstrated their character against Monaco.
The Germans got the 95-94 win with 19/32 threes and Shabazz Napier made the winning shot while scoring 14 points.
Nick Weiler-Babb (photo) added 18 points, six assists, and great defense against Mike James in the last play of the night.
“I took a little pride in getting the stop of the game, Mike is known for making big shots, so I locked in and did the best I could”, he said after the final buzzer on EuroLeague TV.
Shabazz Napier WINS IT for Bayern 🎯pic.twitter.com/R8pUuOZpZ1
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) January 15, 2025
However, Carsen Edwards was the top scorer again with 25 points.
On the losing side, Mike James had 20 points and six assists, Jordan Loyd added 16 points, Matthew Strazel got 14 and Elie Okobo contributed 12.
The bottom line remains that Bayern now has a 12-9 record in a tie between the 6th and the 10th position, while Monaco dropped to 13-8 in a tie with Panathinaikos in the third spot of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings.
On the last shot
Bayern opened up the game with a 16-6 run and closed the first period leading by 17 points (30-13) while Edwards had already scored 10.
Monaco tried to react in the second quarter and closed the game to 11 points (31-22) but what followed was Bayern putting on a show again for a 21-point lead (51-30) involving everyone in their offense.
The guests managed to stop the bleeding and closed the first half down by 13 (53-40) after a 10-2 run, however, Bayern was still in control.
Monaco closed the gap to 10 points (54-44) to start the second half and that was the distance between the two teams entering the last period (78-68).
And the guests saved the best for last, opening the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run to make it a three-point game (80-77) with six minutes left. Suddenly the advantage of Bayern was gone and with one minute left the score was tied at 90.
Mike James put Monaco up by two (92-90) and Devin Booker was fouled with 38 seconds left. He made his free throws to tie the score again (92-92) and James put Monaco up again (94-92).
With the game on the line and eight seconds left, Shabazz Napier made the biggest three of the game (95-94), James took the ball again and the responsibility for the last shot, but he missed.
Photo credit: EuroLeague