AS Monaco responded to its opening-round loss in convincing fashion, routing EuroLeague newcomer Dubai Basketball 103–81 at home to even its record at 1–1. The victory marked a statement rebound for Vassilis Spanoulis’s team, which broke the game open with a dominant third-quarter surge.
Nikola Mirotic led Monaco with 19 points and 7 rebounds, setting the tone early and anchoring the decisive second-half run. Mike James followed with 14 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds, directing the offense with poise. Daniel Theis contributed 15 points, while Alpha Diallo added 12, Kevarrius Hayes 11, and Jaron Blossomgame 10 as six Monaco players finished in double figures.
Dubai, playing its first-ever EuroLeague road game, was led by Mfiondu Kabengele’s 16 points and 6 rebounds. Filip Petrusev and McKinley Wright each scored 14, with Petrusev also collecting 8 rebounds. Dzanan Musa finished with 11 points, while Davis Bertans added 5.
Monaco started aggressively, with Daniel Theis converting an and-one and Matthew Strazel and Mirotic hitting early three-pointers. Kabengele kept Dubai in it with 10 first-quarter points before Diallo buried consecutive triples to push Monaco ahead 26–23 after 10 minutes.
In the second quarter, Dubai cut the deficit to 34–32 after a fast-break layup from Kosta Kondic, but Monaco quickly regained control. Mirotic scored six straight, and James and Terry Tarpey combined for nine more before halftime, giving the hosts a 50–46 edge.
The game turned after the break. Monaco opened the third quarter on a 9–2 run behind Mirotic, James, and Theis, then exploded for a 17–0 stretch that buried Dubai. Strazel capped the outburst with a corner three to make it 79–54. Dubai finally broke its six-minute drought with a Bertans triple, but Monaco entered the fourth up 79–59.
Nemanja Nedovic and Elie Okobo opened the final frame with back-to-back baskets, extending the lead to 87–61. Musa and Petrusev combined for seven quick points, but the visitors could not close the gap as Monaco’s depth and ball movement sealed the win.
Monaco shot 61% on two-pointers and 56% from three, while limiting Dubai to just 20.8% from deep. The French club also tallied 27 assists to Dubai’s 13 and dominated the third quarter 29–13.
