Monaco gets off to an excellent start against Barcelona
Never had AS Monaco won their Game 1 in the EuroLeague playoffs. It’s now done in their fourth participation, after their victory against FC Barcelona this Wednesday April 23rd, winning 97-80 at their Gaston Médecin arena. The Roca Team built a first significant lead in the second quarter before being caught up just before halftime. But with Daniel Theis as a perfect finisher (22 points), a playoff-mode duo of Mike James (22 points) – Elie Okobo (19 points), Vassilis Spanoulis’ players pulled away again, also thanks to suffocating defense. « In the second half, we played incredible defense. At the level of our team, EuroLeague playoffs and what I expect from my team, » appreciated the Greek coach, who nevertheless reminded that it was only one win.
Kevin Punter perfectly launches Barcelona
To start the game, Kevin Punter (16 points on 4/11) outplayed the local defense, perfectly launching the Catalans’ game. Following a succession of offensive rebounds, the visitors’ chief gunner hit a first three-pointer. Before adding two more. Largely dominating the rebounds (13 to 5 at the end of the first quarter) and allowing little in the paint (2/9 on 2-pointers for the Roca Team), Barça led 26 to 21 at the end of the first quarter. Alpha Diallo’s exit with 2 fouls seemed problematic as Vassilis Spanoulis’ team was chaining approximate defensive rotations.
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Monaco at +14 in the second quarter, -1 after 21 minutes
However, AS Monaco’s small-ball became extra small-ball. And it worked. With Terry Tarpey at the 4 position, the principality club improved in all areas, including rebounding (30 to 39 final), to make a 12-2 run in less than 4 minutes to take the lead (33-27, 14′) with 6 points from Elie Okobo during this stretch. Joan Peñarroya’s first timeout didn’t stop the Monaco machine. So much so that the Catalan coach had to take a second one just a minute later, after a 4-0 run concluded by an Elie Okobo fast-break dunk. After another 4-0 coming out of the timeout, the score could have been even worse if Jordan Loyd hadn’t missed a wide-open 3-pointer (41-27). Especially since the Barcelona players rebelled with a 2+1 from Youssoupha Fall plus a three-pointer from Dario Brizuela. Enough to regain momentum, even more after Alpha Diallo’s third foul. At halftime, Barcelona had made up most of their deficit (44-42).
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Daniel Theis’ big night
After halftime, the Catalans briefly took the lead (44-45). Very briefly. Because Monaco responded with a 14-2 run (58-47), notably thanks to a 4-point play from Mike James causing Fall’s third foul, who already had a double-double (13 points on 5/5 and 14 rebounds in 18 minutes total). The home team took off and the atmosphere intensified when Tomas Satoransky was ejected after a violent offensive foul on Matthew Strazel followed by a « fuck you » addressed to a referee.
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But Game 1 was already decided, notably thanks to Daniel Theis’ essential contribution on both ends of the floor and the backcourt’s talent. Matthew Strazel managed to add his personal touch (13 points on 4/9, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 23 minutes) to the work of the James – Okobo pair (41 points and 11 assists combined) to close this Game 1 with a significant margin (97-80). Enough to send a message before Game 2 this Friday, same time, same place.
Aiming for 2-0
« We did a good job as a team, we respected the plan to limit their transition game, » appreciated Terry Tarpey, one of the X-factors of this first round. An X-factor who will want to lead AS Monaco to continue their perfect record in Game 2s of playoff quarter-finals, after victories against Olympiacos in 2022, Maccabi Tel-Aviv in 2023 and Fenerbahçe in 2024.
In Monaco,
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