Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv continued its stunning EuroLeague debut season on Thursday night, defeating last year’s finalist AS Monaco 85–77 to improve to 5–1 and remain tied for the league’s best record.
Behind a dominant fourth quarter from Johnathan Motley and a composed all-around display from Vasilije Micic, Dimitris Itoudis’s team secured another statement victory against one of the competition’s heavyweights.
Hapoel entered the matchup averaging a league-best 93.8 points per game, but Monaco’s defense—ranked third in efficiency—posed a serious test. The Israeli side responded immediately, storming ahead 27–18 after the first period thanks to Micic’s sharp playmaking and Collin Malcolm’s trio of three-pointers.
The visitors adjusted in the middle quarters, tightening their defense and finding rhythm through Mike James, Elie Okobo, and Daniel Theis. Monaco’s surge turned the contest into a physical, back-and-forth battle, and by late in the third quarter, the French side briefly took control.
Momentum shifted again in the final frame, as Motley caught fire inside. The center scored 11 of his 17 points in just over five minutes, attacking midrange spaces left open by Monaco’s drop coverage. His scoring burst, capped by a perimeter block on James, pushed Hapoel to an 80–75 lead.
Micic sealed the win moments later, hitting his fourth three-pointer of the night and finishing with 22 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds. Hapoel’s closing defense was equally crucial, limiting Monaco to only 14 points in the fourth quarter after conceding 29 in the third.
With five wins in six outings, Hapoel continues to look like a legitimate title contender in its first EuroLeague campaign. The Israeli club will next host Partizan Belgrade, while Monaco travels to Greece to face Olympiacos in Round 7.
