The matches follow each other and are not alike. Two days after signing a great victory on the floor of Maccabi Tel-Aviv, and taking an option for a place in the Final Four, Monaco collapsed Thursday against the Israeli formation (104-69), during match 4 of the quarter-finals. Not a defeat, a rout.
Monaco concede a 20-0 in the first period
However, the Roca Team did not take on water right away, and even had a good first quarter, leading 13-5 (5th). Maccabi Tel-Aviv managed to come back, but the Monegasques had widened a new small gap (24-17, 10th). And then there was the deluge, for the first time. The Israelis inflicted a 20-0 on their opponent, carried in particular by Lorenzo Brown and Jake Cohen, ruthless at long distance shots.
Monaco went six minutes without scoring. Then, from voiceless, the Principality’s team became talkative. She in turn investigated the shots and two three-point shots from Elie Okobo put the Monegasques back on track (39-36, 18th). But definitely Maccabi had the ability to react to adverse attacks. At the break, the Israeli team broke away again (47-36). And, this time, Monaco was knocked out. for real.
Obradovic ruled out
The second half was a lonely one for Maccabi Tel-Aviv. There were 26 points difference at the end of the third quarter (79-53). For having lost control of his nerves, Sasa Obradovic, the Monegasque coach, had been expelled a few minutes earlier. The last 10 minutes were another festival for Tel Aviv. Lorenzo Brown (22 pts) and Wade Baldwin (19) were the most prominent in the ranks of Maccabi.
On the Monaco side, Mike James (13 pts), John Brown (12) and Donatas Motiejunas (11) tried to save what could be saved. James finished the game at 3/13 in shooting, including 0/4 at three points. The only positive point for the Roca Team: it is at home that they will seek their qualification for the Final Four, next Wednesday during match 5, and become the first formation of the French Championship to play the final four of the Euroleague since 1997.