AS Monaco Basketball recorded their ninth straight win in France’s top basketball division, with a 113-86 victory against Le Portel on Sunday.
The outcome was never really a doubt at the Salle Gaston MĂ©decin, where the league leaders faced the competition’s weakest side. Still, Portel showed plenty of fight despite being outmatched.
Coach Vassilis Spanoulis rested Kevarrius Hayes after he suffered a knock in Friday’s Euroleague match against Virtus Bologna. Mike James, David Michineau, Terry Tarpey, Alpha Diallo and Daniel Theis formed the starting five.
Le Portel’s Jarrell Smith kept his side competitive in the opening stages, scoring five early points. Meanwhile, Tarpey was active on both ends of the court, while James scored through a foul and added two free throws to give Monaco a 16-13 lead.
Smith hit back with a three-pointer to level the scores at 16-16, then put Portel ahead with another three to make it 19-16. However, Nikola Mirotic made an immediate impact off the bench, scoring four quick points and setting up Elie Okobo for a three-pointer. Okobo added another from distance to give Monaco a 26-19 lead after the first quarter.
Monaco builds a commanding lead
In the second quarter, Matthew Strazel assisted Nemanja Nedovic for a three pointer, and Okobo’s free throws extended Monaco’s advantage to 31-21. Smith remained dangerous for Portel, having scored 15 of his team’s 26 points, and helped reduce the deficit to five points at 33-28. Okobo responded by scoring through contact to steady Monaco.
Juhann Begarin’s three pointer pushed the lead to 11 points, and Monaco went into the break leading 53-50.
The third quarter saw Monaco quickly re-establish control. Smith briefly cut the gap to eight points at 58-50, but Daniel Theis, Tarpey and Alpha Diallo responded to restore a 15 point lead at 67-52.
The quarter became a stop-start with multiple fouls leading to frequent free throws. Tarpey dominated the board as Monaco maintained their advantage. Okobo extended the lead to 20 points for the first time at 79-59, and Monaco entered the final quarter leading 82-61.
The fourth quarter offered little drama. Monaco managed the game professionally without needing to be at their best, surpassing 100 points to win by 27.
Okobo finished as Monaco’s top scorer with 20 points, while Mirotic added 17 and James 16.
The victory keeps Monaco’s position at the top of the Betclic Elite standings. They now turn their attention to Euroleague action, with away fixtures at Kaunas and Munich in the coming week.
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Main photo credit: AS Monaco BasketÂ