Aurélien Canot, Media365, published on Friday March 31, 2023 at 10:12 p.m.
Carried by a Mike James of the big nights (28 points to 6 out of 9 at three points) while the American had been very discreet since his return, Monaco returned to victory, this Friday in the Euroleague, by winning 84-81 on the floor of Bayern Munich. A 21st success that allows the Roca Team to stay in the top four.
A (great) Mike James and off we go again for Monaco! Suspended several games by his club following a drunken night out with a former teammate (Dwayne Bacon of Panathinaikos), the American shooter had left a great void during his absence. This had not prevented his team from lining up the victories (seven in total). And paradoxically it was right when the US leader found the team that it suffered a serious setback, with first a defeat in the league in Limoges then another in stride in the Euroleague against Kaunas . Both times, James, perhaps paying for the lack of rhythm and competition, had not been far from ghostly (7 points in the first game, 6 in the second). On Friday, on the Munich floor against Bayern, the Portland native recalled that if he had been part of the five major competition two years ago, it was not for nothing. Author of a real recital against the Germans, with 28 points scored and a skill at long distance – the main asset of the Monegasque trigger – found (6 out of 9 at three points), the former Brooklyn Nets player in the NBA allowed to the Roca Team to resume its march forward after its two failures in quick succession in its presence and before welcoming Boulogne-Levallois and Victor Wembanyama on Sunday in the shock of Betclic Elite.
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James’ big match against the Bavarians who were catchy and then boosted in the third quarter before Monaco made a decisive acceleration at the end of the match (27-21 in the last quarter) at the same time allowing Sasa Obradovic’s players to retain their place in the top four. Today fourth, the “Roca Boys” can even hope to finish a notch higher. In both cases, they would be sure to have the advantage in the quarter-finals of the play-offs. Everything but a detail for the winner of the Eurocup two years ago, who now dreams of climbing to the roof of Europe. With this Mike James, once again the “King”, Monaco can seriously consider it.