AS Monaco halted a five-game losing streak with a 102-92 victory against Saski Baskonia on Friday at Salle Gaston Medecin.
The result lifted the Principality side to 16-12, keeping it in the thick of the EuroLeague playoff race, while the Spanish outfit fell to 9-19 after its fifth defeat in six games.
Monaco set the tone early with a 10-2 burst, but Baskonia answered behind four straight three-pointers to erase the deficit and settle into a rhythm from deep.
The visitors shot 10-of-19 from long range in the first half and used a late 14-4 run to take a 50-46 lead into the break.
That perimeter accuracy cooled after halftime, and the hosts responded by tightening their defense and attacking inside.
Trailing 53-46 in the third quarter, the French club produced a 10-0 run to regain control and entered the fourth with a slim 74-73 advantage.
From there, Monaco executed better in half-court sets and capitalized on second-chance opportunities to pull away in the final minutes.
The home team finished 36-of-69 from the field and shot 27-of-44 on two-point attempts, a 61 percent conversion rate that proved decisive.
It also dished out 22 assists and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, creating extra possessions in a high-scoring contest.
Mike James led the way with 17 points and eight assists, while Nikola Mirotic and Elie Okobo added 16 points each.
Okobo, who shot 5-of-7 from the field and 4-of-4 at the line, set the tone in transition and in late-clock situations.
Nemanja Nedovic provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting in 18 minutes.
Daniel Theis and Alpha Diallo each scored 10 points and combined for 11 rebounds, helping Monaco control the paint when the game tightened.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Trent Forrest paced Baskonia with 15 points apiece, while Eugene Omoruyi and Mamadi Diakite contributed 14 each.
The visitors shot 13-of-26 from three-point range overall, but 16 turnovers and defensive struggles against switches limited their comeback chances.
Monaco will next host Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv on Feb. 26, while Baskonia welcomes Valencia Basket as the regular season enters its decisive stretch.
