Monaco, beaten on the wire by Kaunas, falls from very high
Monaco completely cracked against the Lithuanian team of Zalgiris Kaunas (83-82) Thursday evening at home during the 26th day of the Euroleague, and lost a big opportunity to get closer to qualifying for the Top 8.
With 13 defeats, for only 12 victories, Sasa Obrodovic’s men will now have to count on two home victories against two direct opponents to hope to revive. It will be next February 22, against the Russian team of Unics Kazan, then on February 25 against the Turks of Fenerbahçe Istanbul. Monaco, which remained on six victories in seven games in the competition, therefore falls from a very high point. Especially since Kaunas had not won a single away game since the start of the season (11 defeats).
“We deserved to lose this match, analyzed Obradovic afterwards, disappointed. I did not like the way we played. We played too slowly, the whole match. We cannot not respect this Zalgiris team like this.”
With the contribution of the French international Joffrey Lauvergne (13 points, 2 rebounds), returned since the end of January to the competition after an operation on the right shoulder which earned him three months off, the Lithuanians won the 3rd quarter (25-18). Then came closer at the very end of the match against a totally disunited Monegasque team. Monaco nevertheless led until 16 seconds from time. Until the leader Lukas Lekavicius gives the advantage to his people following a good penetration.
Mike James misses the winning shot
During the last possession, Mike James, who until then had played a good game (18 points), decided to take a three-point shot at the buzzer. It was not marked. But Obradovic did not let go of his leader after the meeting.
“A coach must trust the instincts of his players, he concluded. But it is certain that I would have preferred that we win a foul and that we have two free throws.” Despite these words of appeasement, the days to come are likely to be very tense in the Principality. Especially since Monaco travels to Villeurbanne on Sunday as part of the French championship.