AS Monaco made a strong statement in the EuroLeague on Friday night, defeating Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (5-3) 92-84 at home to close out a dominant double-round week against Greece’s two top teams. The win improved Monaco’s record to 5-3 and capped off a four-day stretch that also included an away victory over Olympiacos Piraeus.
Monaco took control early, leading for the final 33 minutes of the game. Balanced offense and sharp execution defined the night, as eight players registered double-digit performance index ratings. Elie Okobo led the team with 15 points, while Jaron Blossomgame and Matthew Strazel added 11 and 12 respectively. Mike James contributed 13 points and 8 assists, while Nikola Mirotic recorded 9 points, 5 rebounds, and a block.
The result carried historical significance as well. Mirotic climbed to fifth place on the EuroLeague’s all-time scoring list, surpassing Spanish legend Juan Carlos Navarro. The Monaco forward now sits at 4,159 career points, trailing only Sergio Llull, Vassilis Spanoulis, Nando De Colo, and teammate Mike James.
Monaco’s offense clicked efficiently, shooting 66.7% on two-pointers and 84.2% from the free-throw line. Defensively, the hosts limited Panathinaikos’ inside presence and forced 10 turnovers. The visitors were led by Kendrick Nunn’s 26 points and Kostas Sloukas’s 14, but they struggled to find answers once Monaco built its double-digit lead.
Next up, Panathinaikos visits Crvena Zvezda on Wednesday, while Monaco travels to face Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday in Round 9.
