AS Monaco Triumphs Over Baskonia Vitoria in Euroleague Clash
Monaco secures its third consecutive victory, bolstered by Mike James' historic scoring milestone.
AS Monaco continued its impressive run in the Euroleague by defeating Baskonia Vitoria 80-79 on February 5, 2025, marking the team's third consecutive victory in the tournament.
Monaco solidified its position in third place, an important step towards playoff qualification.
The match took place in Monaco’s Gaston-Médecin arena where the Roca Team led by coach Vassilis Spanoulis initially dominated, finishing the first half with a 51-35 lead.
Players including Georgios Papagiannis, Elie Okobo, and Alpha Diallo showcased their skills with dynamic plays and effective scoring, contributing to a strong start.
However, after halftime, the rhythm shifted.
Baskonia Vitoria, led by former Monaco players Donta Hall and Chima Moneke, pressed back, agilely closing the score gap after Monaco relaxed its defensive intensity.
Hall, particularly influential in the second half, executed several critical rebounds and scored to tie the game at 63-63. The match fluctuated with tight scorelines, with Baskonia taking a brief lead at 74-73.
Despite the pressure, key players for Monaco, including Mike James and Nick Calathes, responded effectively.
Calathes, in particular, assisted Papagiannis for crucial dunks, recalling the team's offensive rhythm.
As the match neared its conclusion, a critical no-look pass from James to Calathes put Monaco back in the lead, which they maintained until the final buzzer.
In a significant individual achievement during the game, Mike James also made history by becoming the first player to score 5,000 points in Euroleague history, achieving this milestone with 5,008 points total across 307 games.
This remarkable feat underscores James' significant impact on European basketball.
In related news, Belgian midfielder Denis Zakaria confirmed his participation in the upcoming UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan after recovering from an ankle injury.
His presence is considered vital for Monaco, given the team's performance fluctuated significantly during his absence in recent matches.
The Monaco team will now prepare for their next Euroleague match against Partizan Belgrade, further adding competitive context to their ongoing season.
Monaco solidified its position in third place, an important step towards playoff qualification.
The match took place in Monaco’s Gaston-Médecin arena where the Roca Team led by coach Vassilis Spanoulis initially dominated, finishing the first half with a 51-35 lead.
Players including Georgios Papagiannis, Elie Okobo, and Alpha Diallo showcased their skills with dynamic plays and effective scoring, contributing to a strong start.
However, after halftime, the rhythm shifted.
Baskonia Vitoria, led by former Monaco players Donta Hall and Chima Moneke, pressed back, agilely closing the score gap after Monaco relaxed its defensive intensity.
Hall, particularly influential in the second half, executed several critical rebounds and scored to tie the game at 63-63. The match fluctuated with tight scorelines, with Baskonia taking a brief lead at 74-73.
Despite the pressure, key players for Monaco, including Mike James and Nick Calathes, responded effectively.
Calathes, in particular, assisted Papagiannis for crucial dunks, recalling the team's offensive rhythm.
As the match neared its conclusion, a critical no-look pass from James to Calathes put Monaco back in the lead, which they maintained until the final buzzer.
In a significant individual achievement during the game, Mike James also made history by becoming the first player to score 5,000 points in Euroleague history, achieving this milestone with 5,008 points total across 307 games.
This remarkable feat underscores James' significant impact on European basketball.
In related news, Belgian midfielder Denis Zakaria confirmed his participation in the upcoming UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan after recovering from an ankle injury.
His presence is considered vital for Monaco, given the team's performance fluctuated significantly during his absence in recent matches.
The Monaco team will now prepare for their next Euroleague match against Partizan Belgrade, further adding competitive context to their ongoing season.
