end of series for Monaco, beaten at home by Efes Istanbul

2023-11-14 22:39:54

By Le Figaro with AFP

Published 17 minutes ago, Updated now

Here in defense on Mike James, Shane Larkin split 25 points in Monaco. Norbert Scanella / Norbert Scanella / Panoramic

Shane Larkin, Rodrigue Beaubois and their Istanbul teammates got the better of the Roca Team this Tuesday, at Gaston-Médecin.

Monaco was beaten for the first time in a month in the Euroleague of basketball and a series of five successes, Tuesday at home by Efes Istanbul (89-82) on the occasion of the 8th day. ASM suffered its second setback in its Gaston-Médecin venue after the one conceded against Virtus Bologna on October 13 (83-59), also its last in the competition.

He jeopardizes his fourth place before this day (five wins for three defeats), before going to the field of the leader and reigning European champion, Real Madrid, on Thursday. “That’s the beauty of the Euroleague, being able to move on quickly after a defeat. We’re going to come together, get together and improve» declared Monegasque point guard Jordan Loyd at the microphone of Skweekthe broadcaster.

The “Roca Team” was never really in the game collectively, led the entire match – with the exception of two one-point leads in the first and second quarters – by the 2021 and 2022 European champion The Istanbulites, who had never won away from home since the start of the season, perfectly exploited the opposing defensive wanderings for almost three quarters.

Larkin knocks out ASM

The back trio composed of Rodrigue Beaubois (21 points, 5 assists), Shane Larkin (25 pts, 5 pd) and Darius Thompson (16 pts, 5 pd) sowed terror in the Monegasque defense, scoring almost three-quarters points for his team. Larkin then Beaubois, with two winning shots in a row, for example gave the Turks a small lead five minutes from the whistle (75-70 then 78-72) after Monaco had, on three occasions, opportunity to get back in front, in the wake of Mike James, who woke up in the last quarter (12 pts in the end).

And it was again Larkin who stunned ASM, back three lengths, with an unbalanced shot at the end of the possession 38 seconds from the buzzer (87-82), before Thompson sealed the success by scoring his two free throws. “We had a lot of opportunities to go ahead that we didn’t manage to take advantage of, and defensive absences. We can’t afford it against such a big team» said Loyd.