AS Monaco faced an immediate challenge in their Euroleague playoff campaign, losing their first quarter-final game to Olympiacos on their home court. Despite their recent qualification for the playoffs, the finalists of the 2025 edition found themselves outmatched by Olympiacos, a team with a consistent presence in the Final Four since 2021.
Monaco struggled to find offensive rhythm throughout the game. Players like Matthew Strazel, who went scoreless with an 0-7 shooting record, and Daniel Theis, with 6 points on 3-10 shooting, had a difficult outing. Mike James, with 19 points and 7 assists, and Alpha Diallo, contributing 15 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals, were the standout performers for the Roca Team.
On the other side, Olympiacos saw significant contributions from Sasha Vezenkov (20 points), Nikola Milutinov (13 points, 10 rebounds), and former Monaco player Cory Joseph (13 points), all proving crucial for the Piraeus club.
MVP Duel to Start
The game began with an intense back-and-forth, highlighted by a duel between star players. Mike James was active on both ends of the court, and with support from Alpha Diallo’s sharp three-point shooting, Monaco started strong, taking an early lead.
Sasha Vezenkov, a former Euroleague MVP, matched James’s intensity, scoring 11 points in the first quarter with excellent off-ball movement, helping Olympiacos regain the lead for the first time. The close contest continued until the end of the period, with Monaco managing to regain a slight advantage just before the quarter concluded.
Veteran Evan Fournier broke Olympiacos’s long-range drought, creating a small gap. Terry Tarpey, similar to his play-in performance, hit his first two three-pointers, helping Monaco stay afloat.
Monaco Crumbles
Despite these efforts, Monaco couldn’t maintain momentum through the second quarter, which proved challenging. A key indicator of their struggles was committing six fouls in as many minutes, while Olympiacos committed none.
Although the visitors showed some signs of life, Olympiacos finished the first half stronger. Monaco’s shooting woes, with a 15-40 field goal percentage and a hesitant Daniel Theis contributing only 2 points on 1-7 shooting by halftime, resulted in a significant deficit at the break.
The situation worsened for AS Monaco after halftime. Tyler Dorsey found his rhythm, and Vezenkov continued his impressive performance. Olympiacos managed the game effectively, responding to Monaco’s occasional bursts of energy, ultimately leading the Roca Team to concede defeat.
The next game is scheduled for Thursday at the same venue and time (8:00 PM).
