MONACO – AS Monaco delivered a stunning upset Thursday night, overcoming a turbulent week off the court to defeat Olympiacos Piraeus 81-80 in a thrilling EuroLeague contest. Meanwhile, in a battle of French teams struggling in the standings, Paris Basketball dominated ASVEL Villeurbanne 90-81, pushing the latter further into last place.
The past week has been challenging for Monaco, marked by the departure of their head coach. However, the team channeled that adversity into a focused performance, securing a vital win against one of the EuroLeague’s top contenders. Monaco has now defeated Olympiacos five consecutive times, establishing a clear pattern of success against the Greek powerhouse.
The game at Gaston-Médecin Hall began with a burst of energy from Monaco, quickly establishing a 11-2 lead against Olympiacos, fueled by a strong start from their offense. Despite a response from the Greek side, Monaco maintained its advantage throughout the first quarter. The Monégasques continued their strong play into the second quarter, building a 43-37 lead at halftime.
Strazel Seals the Victory in the Final Seconds
The third quarter saw Olympiacos mount a comeback, fueled by improved play and a strong performance from Tyler Dorsey, who finished as the game’s leading scorer with 19 points. Dorsey’s efforts briefly gave Olympiacos the lead, but Monaco responded with resilience. Key contributions from Nemanja Nedovic and Jaron Blossomgame helped Monaco regain control.
A late scare arose for Monaco when Mike James, a crucial player for the team, suffered a left thigh injury and was forced to leave the game. With James sidelined, Matthew Strazel stepped up in the final moments. After Alec Peters missed a crucial free throw with 25 seconds remaining, Strazel delivered a clutch floater that secured the 81-80 victory for Monaco. A review of the play confirmed the basket and a final attempt by Olympiacos’ Milutinov fell short.
The win lifts Monaco to ninth place in the EuroLeague standings, providing a much-needed boost after a recent two-game losing streak. Manuchar Markoishvili, who served as an assistant to the recently departed Vassilis Spanoulis, will now lead the team in the EuroCup, while Sergii Gladyr will grab the helm for league and domestic cup competitions.
Paris Dominates ASVEL in French Clash
The other EuroLeague game featuring French teams saw Paris Basketball defeat ASVEL 90-81. While Paris entered the game coming off a home loss to Olympiacos, ASVEL had recently ended a three-game losing streak with a road win against Anadolu Efes. However, ASVEL was unable to carry that momentum into their contest against Paris.
The game remained competitive until the final minutes, with Armel Traoré bringing ASVEL within two points. However, Justin Robinson, who had a stellar performance throughout the game, sealed the victory for Paris with a series of crucial baskets, including two three-pointers, finishing with a game-high 25 points. Paris improves to 16th in the standings, while ASVEL remains at the bottom of the EuroLeague table.
This result underscores the contrasting fortunes of the two French teams in the EuroLeague this season. Paris appears to be finding its footing, while ASVEL continues to struggle.
The EuroLeague season continues to unfold with dramatic twists and turns. Monaco’s upset victory over Olympiacos and Paris’s win against ASVEL highlight the competitive nature of the league and the unpredictable outcomes that make it so compelling for fans worldwide.
Next up for AS Monaco is a EuroCup quarterfinal matchup, while Paris Basketball will look to continue its momentum in league play. Fans can stay updated on the latest EuroLeague news and scores on the official EuroLeague Basketball website: https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/-/-/E2025/306/
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