The AS Monaco Basket made a winning start to their Betclic Élite playoff campaign after defeating JL Bourg 81-75 at Salle Gaston Médecin on Monday, May 25 despite being severely depleted by injuries and suspensions.
Reduced to just seven senior professionals, Monaco showed resilience and composure to secure the opening game of their quarter-final series and move within one victory of the semi-finals.
The Roca Team entered the postseason under difficult circumstances. Mike James remained unavailable through suspension, while Daniel Theis, Nikola Mirotić and Alpha Diallo were sidelined through injury. Juhann Begarin was also absent, forcing assistant coach Sergii Gladyr to rely heavily on a shortened rotation supplemented by academy players.
Even so, Monaco started strongly in front of their home crowd. Elie Okobo set the tone early, while Kevarrius Hayes dominated inside and contributed from long range as the hosts quickly established control. Monaco’s aggressive defence and fast transition play helped open an early double-digit advantage during the first quarter.
Bourg-en-Bresse gradually settled into the contest during the second period, responding through improved defensive intensity and outside shooting. Monaco nevertheless maintained a narrow lead at halftime, despite the visitors beginning to find rhythm offensively.
The game tightened considerably after the break. Bourg increased the tempo and managed to draw level early in the third quarter before Monaco regained momentum through defensive stops and transition baskets. Fatigue began to affect the Principality side late in the game as Bourg repeatedly closed the gap.
The visitors briefly moved ahead in the final quarter after a series of successful three-pointers, creating tension inside Gaston Médecin. However, Monaco responded in the decisive moments through the leadership of Matthew Strazel, whose clutch plays helped restore control.
Monaco’s defensive rebounding and composure from the free-throw line ultimately proved decisive as the hosts closed out the victory to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Jaron Blossomgame finished as Monaco’s top scorer with 20 points, while Hayes added 17 and Strazel contributed 16. Okobo also played a key role with 11 points and eight assists.
For Bourg, Jordan Usher Kokila led the scoring with 14 points in a spirited performance from the EuroCup winners, who remained competitive throughout despite Monaco’s strong start.
The series now shifts to Bourg-en-Bresse, where Monaco will have the opportunity to clinch qualification for the semi-finals in Game 2 later this week.