For its first outing of the year 2025, AS Monaco had a rather easy trip, to ALBA Berlin, to reconnect with the EuroLeague. Further strengthened by the return of Nick Calathes, who had his first European outing of the season, the Principality club was at the bottom of the competition (90-105).
A little scare at the end of the game
Even if AS Monaco could have made the task easier and secured the victory well before the end of the 4th quarter. After a first period full of success, like the 13 points of Mike James or 3/3 to 3-points Matthew Strazel (18 points including 5/6 3-pointers in the end), the Roca Team did not kill the match after returning from the locker room.
Thus, after closing from -19 to -10 in the 3rd quarter, Alba Berlin came back to within 6 points of Monaco (86-92) thanks to its Italian pair Procida – Spagnolo. The reigning French champion, however, did not tremble, counting on 13 points from a duo also, that formed by Mike James (23 points at 8/17 on shots) and Jaron Blossomgame (17 points at 6/9), to ensure the victory in the German capital (90-105). For his first European outing with Monaco, Nick Calathes played its primary role: distributing the ball (7 assists for 2 lost balls), without trying to score a single point (0/1 at 3-points).
With this victory, AS Monaco returns to the level of Olympiakos, winner in Kaunas, at the top of the EuroLeague. Paris Basketball will try to do the same this Friday, January 3, during the reception of FC Barcelona.
