Istanbul, Turkey – AS Monaco overcame Anadolu Efes Istanbul 98-93 on Friday evening in a thrilling Round 32 matchup of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. The game, played at the Basketball Development Center, saw Monaco rally late to secure the victory, despite a strong performance from Efes guard Şehmus Hazer.
The result leaves Anadolu Efes with a 17-17 record, officially eliminating them from playoff contention. Monaco, already locked into the fourth seed, improved to 21-13 ahead of their playoff series against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. This marks a bittersweet finish to the season for the Turkish side, the two-time defending champions who will miss the postseason this year.
The game began with a back-and-forth exchange, with Anadolu Efes briefly taking a lead thanks to baskets from Loyd. However, Monaco responded with a 6-0 run to close the first quarter leading 23-21. The early stages of the contest showcased the offensive firepower of both teams, setting the stage for a competitive affair.
Monaco continued to build momentum in the second quarter, establishing a presence in the paint. Anadolu Efes countered with a 9-0 run fueled by Cordinier and Şehmus Hazer’s three-pointers, taking a 42-36 lead. A strong defensive effort from Efes stifled Monaco’s attempts to close the gap, and a late three-pointer from Swider sent the home team into halftime with a 53-45 advantage.
The third quarter saw both teams struggling to find consistent offense. Monaco managed to narrow the deficit to one point with a basket from Theis, but Anadolu Efes responded with strong play in the paint, extending their lead to 60-54. Efes maintained control throughout the remainder of the quarter, heading into the final period with a 73-66 lead.
The fourth quarter proved to be a dramatic shift in momentum. Monaco, sparked by consecutive three-pointers from Begarin and Blossomgame, quickly erased the deficit, tying the game at 85-84. The lead changed hands multiple times in a tense final period, but Anadolu Efes ultimately couldn’t hold on, falling to Monaco 98-93. The late surge from Monaco proved decisive, showcasing their resilience and playoff readiness.
Şehmus Hazer led Anadolu Efes with 26 points, while Loyd added 10. Smits and Swider each contributed 12 points, and Cordinier finished with 11. For Monaco, Blossomgame and Diallo led the way with 17 points apiece, while Theis and Strazel added 17 and 10 respectively.
Here’s a breakdown of the scoring:
Anadolu Efes: Loyd 10, Weiler-Babb, Smits 12, Dozier 4, Ercan Osmani 6, Şehmus Hazer 26, Lee 13, Cordinier 11, Swider 11, Jones
Monaco: Blossomgame 17, Theis 10, Diallo 17, Nedovic 7, Strazel 17, Okobo 10, Hayes 6, Tarpey 2, Begarin 12
Quarter Scores: 21-23, 53-45, 73-66, 98-93
Dozier of Anadolu Efes fouled out of the game with 39:21 remaining in the fourth quarter.
This loss marks a disappointing end to the season for Anadolu Efes, who were hoping to extend their championship run. While they won’t be competing in the playoffs this year, the team will undoubtedly glance to rebuild and return stronger next season. For Monaco, the victory serves as a confidence boost as they prepare for their playoff series against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The French side will return home to face EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on March 24, while Efes travels to take on FC Barcelona in its next EuroLeague fixture.
The Monaco team demonstrated a remarkable ability to overcome adversity and secure a crucial win on the road. Their late-game execution and balanced scoring attack proved too much for Anadolu Efes to handle. The EuroLeague playoffs are rapidly approaching, and Monaco appears to be a team poised to make a deep run.
