AS Monaco continued its push toward the top of the EuroLeague standings with a hard-fought 100-95 victory over Real Madrid on Friday night at Salle Gaston Médecin.
Fresh off reaching its first EuroLeague Championship Game last spring, Monaco improved to 11-7 by finding a way to win despite uneven execution on both ends of the floor.
Real Madrid threatened to control the game early through size, as Walter Tavares dominated the opening quarter with 15 points and seven rebounds, including five on the offensive end.
Monaco responded with physicality and persistence, finishing with a season-high 17 offensive rebounds and 40 total boards to offset its fourth-lowest assist total of the campaign.
Elie Okobo led Monaco with 22 points, providing steady scoring throughout as the hosts hit triple digits for the fourth time in their last five home games.
Mike James scored 15 points while operating in a less ball-dominant role, and Monaco’s backcourt depth proved decisive.
Matthew Strazel and Nemanja Nedovic added 12 points apiece, giving Monaco 61 combined points from its four primary guards.
Monaco appeared in control late after building a 95-81 lead with 1:50 remaining, but the contest tightened quickly as Real Madrid surged.
Facundo Campazzo erupted for 14 points in a 91-second stretch, trimming the deficit to 99-95 with eight seconds left and briefly shifting the pressure back onto the home side.
The response came from experience, as Nikola Mirotic knocked down consecutive fourth-quarter three-pointers and finished with 10 points.
Mirotic also moved into fourth place on the EuroLeague’s all-time scoring list with 4,267 career points, passing Sergio Llull in the process.
Monaco visits FC Barcelona next Tuesday, while Real Madrid, now 10-8, hosts Dubai Basketball next Friday.
