Credit: Alfonso Cannavacciuolo/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images
Credit Alfonso Cannavacciuolo/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

In the first EuroLeague Playoff game ever played in Monaco, AS Monaco suffered a defeat against Greek side Olympiacos Piraeus in an exciting ending with the final score of 87-83 (19-23, 26-18, 26-17, 16-25). Olympiacos took a 2-1 series lead over Monaco.

Player of the Game
Aleksandr  Vezenkov
EFF
24
Aleksandr Vezenkov
Points 17
Accuracy 4-9
Rebounds 9
Assists 2

Though, the success for visitors was temporary, as Monaco responded at the start of the fourth quarter. Inspired by Will Thomas and Dwyane Bacon‘s buckets, they initiated 11-0 run and cut the deficit to 4 (69-73) with 5:53 to go.

Sloukas answered with 4 points in a row, but Bacon added 5 points from his own, Paris Lee drained a triple and the game became tied (77-77) with 2:41 remaining.

Another Lee 3-pointer gave hosts the narrow lead (80-79), but Walkup answered with couple of free throws (81-80) with 1:16 left.

After successful defensive stop from Olympiacos, Sasha Vezenkov fouled out Mike James and made two free throws to put Olympiacos up by 3 with 35 seconds to go. Leo Westerman‘s shot was off the mark and Walkup responded with pair of free throws again (85-80).

Bacon hit desperate 3-pointer (83-85) with 6 seconds to go, but Sloukas didn‘t miss from the free throw line and Oly escape with a cruicial away win.

Sasha Vezenkov was the most efficient player for Olympiacos, finishing with 17 points (2/4 2PT, 2/5 3PT, 7/8 FT), 9 rebounds and 24 PIR.

Dwayne Bacon was the leading scorer for Monaco, posting 23 points (4/9 2PT, 5/9 3PT, 0/2 FT).

The first half of the game went back and forth, neither team gaining a commanding lead. After 7 consecutive Kostas Sloukas points before a halftime, Olympiacos were up by 4 (45-41). Sloukas scored 11 points for Oly, while Mike James had 13 points for Monaco alone.

After a 16-2 run at the start of the third period, the Oly ran away from their opponents and created a solid double-digit lead (67-53). The Greeks managed to maintain such a lead comming into the final quarter (71-58).

Olympiacos: Kostas Sloukas 21 (4 REB, 21 PIR), Sasha Vezenkov 17 (9 REB), Thomas Walkup 13 (6 AST, 5 REB, 21 PIR), Tyler Dorsey 11, Moustapha Fall 9 (5 REB).

Monaco: Dwayne Bacon 23, Will Thomas 15 (8 REB), Mike James 13 (8 AST, 5 REB), Donta Hall 12 (4 REB).

Highlights

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AS Monaco
Olympiacos Piraeus
44%
29/66
Field goals
51%
28/55
31
Rebounds
36
15
Assists
15
7
Steals
5
3
Blocks
4
81
Efficiency
97

Best players

Dwayne  Bacon
23 PTS
9/18 FG
0/2 FT
Konstantinos  Sloukas
21 PTS
7/9 FG
5/6 FT
Will  Thomas
8 REB
5 DREB
3 OREB
Aleksandr  Vezenkov
9 REB
6 DREB
3 OREB
Mike  James
8 As
2 TO
35 MIN
Thomas  Walkup
6 As
1 TO
31 MIN
Mike  James
22 EFF
0% 2P%
17% 3P%
Aleksandr  Vezenkov
24 EFF
50% 2P%
40% 3P%