Mike James delivers Monaco statement win over Efes in overtime thriller / News - Basketnews.com

Mike James poured in a team-high 19 points.

Credit: Imago-Scanpix Credit Imago-Scanpix

AS Monaco grabbed their second straight Turkish Airlines EuroLeague win in as many games by taking down defending champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul 95-92 (12-20, 24-15, 22-25, 24-22, 13-10) in an overtime thriller.

Player of the Game EFF 25 Alpha Diallo Points 15 Accuracy 5-10 Rebounds 9 Assists 7

Mike James had a team-high 19 points (4/9 2PT, 1/5 3PT, 8/9 FT), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 20 PIR for Monaco.

Rodrigue Beaubois closed the third quarter with five points in a row and Anadolu Efes were leading 60-58 before the last 10 minutes of the game.

The same two points (77-75) differed both clubs with 3 minutes to go in the match following Will Clyburn's triple.

Teams were trading buckets, while Will Clyburn scored his 25th point with 1:40 to go (82-80). Mike James could not let his former teammate overshadow him and tied the score at 82 with 30 seconds left on the clock.

Vasilije Micic had a chance to win the game for Efes but missed a three-point fadeaway jumper. Moreover, he seemed to suffer an ankle injury while landing on the floor. The Serbian star left the court with a help of his medical staff.

Monaco had 4.1 seconds for their last attack. Mike James tried to make a very difficult two-point jumper but his shot was off the mark. Both teams went into overtime.

Despite his ankle setback, Vasilije Micic returned to the floor with 3:13 to go in the overtime, while his team was 84-88 behind. Nevertheless, Efes bounced back. Vasilije Micic scored four straight points and tied the match at 88 with 1 minute to play.

Mike James answered on the other end (90-88). Amath M'Baye was fouled but could not convert either of his two free throws.

Alpha Diallo nailed two shots from the line for Monaco and the hosts had plus 4 points (92-88) with 18 seconds on the clock. Both clubs were trading free throws and it was a favorable scenario for Monaco.

Monaco: Mike James 19 (4 STL), Alpha Diallo 15 (9 REB, 7 AST, 25 PIR), Adrien Moerman 14, Donatas Motiejunas 14 (5 REB, 22 PIR).

Efes: Will Clyburn 27 (6 REB, 6 AST, 33 PIR), Vasilije Micic 20 (6 REB, 8 AST, 21 PIR), Amath M'Baye 13 (6 REB), Rodrigue Beaubois 10, Tibor Pleiss 10 (5 REB).

Game highlights:

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