In a nail-biting EuroLeague showdown, the Roca Team suffered a crushing 91-88 defeat against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, collapsing in the final moments of a fiercely contested match. Coming off a perfect week with two wins over Paris Basketball, Monaco aimed to keep their momentum rolling but stumbled against a relentless Maccabi side that refused to back down.
The game, played at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, saw a sparse crowd witness an explosive start from Monaco, who jumped out to a 7-2 lead within the first three minutes. However, Maccabi quickly responded, driven by a gritty performance from Will Rayman (6 points, 3 rebounds), and seized a narrow 21-18 edge by the end of the first quarter. Despite Monaco’s struggles with physicality and eight turnovers, Mam Jaiteh dominated the paint (12 points, 11 rebounds), keeping his team in the fight. A dynamic duo of Mike James (26 points, 8 assists) and Daniel Theis (16 points, 6 rebounds) propelled the Roca Team to a slim 42-39 lead at halftime.
The third quarter brought more drama. Monaco ignited a 6-0 run to stretch their advantage to 48-39, but Maccabi clawed back, erasing the deficit with tenacity. The Roca Team held a fragile 63-59 lead entering the final period, though their hopes took a hit when Daniel Theis exited after an awkward landing in a rebound battle with Jordan Loyd. The German international did not return, leaving Monaco shorthanded.
The fourth quarter turned into a rollercoaster. With less than two minutes remaining, Monaco seemed poised for victory, up 88-82. But Maccabi mounted a stunning comeback, capped by a clutch lay-up from Rokas Jokubaitis in the dying seconds. Monaco’s late-game meltdown was stark—0-for-4 shooting, two missed free throws from Jaiteh, and a critical turnover sealed their fate.
The loss drops Monaco to fifth in the EuroLeague standings, halting their recent surge. Coach Vassilis Spanoulis and his squad will look to regroup as they prepare to host Fenerbahçe at Gaston-Médecin on Thursday, March 20.
