AS Monaco Basket closed out their EuroLeague regular season with a commanding 105-85 win over playoff-bound Hapoel Tel Aviv at Salle Gaston Médecin on Friday 17th April. A match that was expected to prove to be a well-fought, evenly matched battle instead resulted in a one-sided performance, as Monaco took control early and never looked back.

Once again competing with an eight-man roster, Monaco was expected to fight hard in this matchup. Instead, they set the tone immediately. Back-to-back three-pointers from Jaron Blossomgame and Elie Okobo sparked an early lead for Monaco and established control from the opening. The first half alone showed Monaco operating with clear rhythm and confidence. They found unity with one another, with players anticipating and covering for one another’s errors. The chemistry on the court was felt throughout the entire arena, with the energy high and an electric crowd proud to see their team succeed.

With a double-digit lead established early into the game, Monaco continued to extend their lead into halftime, where they were up 17. That momentum carried into the second half as Monaco maintained their high-energy defense and efficient offense. Nearing the end of the fourth quarter, Monaco had built their lead to 20+ points, further reinforcing the fact that this team was functioning as a cohesive unit. After a tough double-header week prior, and with such a limited roster, the rest and recovery in recent days proved valuable to the team.

Individually, the performances were just as strong. Blossomgame scored a EuroLeague career high of 30 points, while Mike James recorded 20 points and 7 assists. Yet beyond the numbers, the most noticeable distinction was the level of teamwork displayed. Monaco’s ball movement, defensive coverage, and overall cohesion consistently outmatched their opponents throughout the night.

The momentum and energy from this win will be crucial for the Roca Team to carry into the upcoming play-in round. With the regular EuroLeague season now complete, Monaco has qualified for the play-in battles to compete for a seat in the final playoffs, facing Panathinaikos on Tuesday.

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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket