AS Monaco Basket fell 87–79 to Panathinaikos in Athens in their EuroLeague play-in opener, delivering a performance marked by turnovers, poor shooting and a lack of rhythm throughout.
AS Monaco Basket fell 87–79 to Panathinaikos in Athens on Tuesday 21st April, missing their first opportunity to secure a EuroLeague playoff spot.
Entering the play-in matchup with a limited roster, Monaco had little margin for error against a strong Panathinaikos side on home court. From the opening quarter, the Roca Team struggled to establish any rhythm, with early issues carrying throughout the game.
Turnovers, a lack of rebounds, and disjointed ball movement quickly became defining factors. Monaco recorded 13 turnovers compared to Panathinaikos’ seven, while also struggling to control the boards. Shooting efficiency further highlighted the team’s difficulties, finishing 7-for-25 from three-point range and lacking consistency on the offensive end.
The cohesion that had started to come together toward the end of the regular season appeared absent, as Monaco failed to build momentum at any stage of the game. Despite keeping the final score relatively close, the performance itself told a different story, with the team outplayed across key areas.
Mike James led Monaco with 25 points, along with five rebounds and seven assists, but his efforts were not enough to shift the momentum.
After reaching the EuroLeague final last season, Monaco entered this year’s play-in round with ambitions of going one step further. While this loss closes their first path to qualification, the Roca Team still has one final opportunity.
They will face FC Barcelona at home on Friday 24th April in a decisive, do-or-die matchup for the final playoff spot. Monaco can take confidence from their recent win against Barcelona earlier this month but will need a significantly improved performance to keep their EuroLeague campaign alive.
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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket