Opponent in the semi-finals of the Final 4 of Kaunas for Olympic is Monaco!
In a nerve-wracking thriller, with plenty of excitement and plenty of lead changes, the Monegasques won by a score 97-86 over Maccabi Tel Aviv at the ‘Salle Gaston Medecin’, celebrating their maiden qualification to the EuroLeague semi-finals, while leaving the Israelis out of the Final 4 for the ninth consecutive season!
The match:
As concerto for… machine guns can be described as the highly explosive first quarter of the match, with the two gladiators starting off impressively, exchanging “blows” on both sides! The not Maccabi put together an incredible first period, with the Israelis looking at the basket…like a barrel, ending the quarter with unimaginable 11/14 in field!
With Baldwin and Martin to have from 10 and 7 points respectively, the guests looked invincible in attack, maintaining a difference of 3-4 points. Mainly responsible for the fact that Monaco staying close to the score was o Mike James, where with 11 points and 4 assists he kept the home team in the match, with the first quarter ending with impressive 26-33.
Completely different scenery in second period, where the good defense of the home team brought the “blackout” of Maccabi, who stayed no point for 4 minutes. Something that Monaco took full advantage of thanks to the improbable James with 8 points, ran a 15-0 run for +8 and 41-33!
From midway through the quarter, Maccabi hit back, retaking the lead with three consecutive three-pointers of Colson, Baldwin and Hilliard (45-47 at 17′). Diallo’s shots, as well as Ouattara’s buzzer beater two-pointer at the end of the period, sent Monaco to the locker room at +4 for 53-49.
Good start to the second half for Monaco who went on a quick 4-0 run at +8 (57-49). Maccabi reacted immediately, and with its weapon the terrible accuracy behind the 6.75m. after five consecutive three-pointers (!) by Baldwin (bis), Martin, Di Bartolomeo and Hilliard, went ahead with 64-63 at 26′. Okobo and Brown gave the Monegasques the lead again (68-66), with Hall then sending his team to +4, before Lorenzo Brown with a basket in the final made the 72-70 of the quarter.
More in a while…
The quarters: 26-33, 53-49, 72-70, 97-86.
Source: Sport Fm
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