Zalgiris Kaunas get the first win of 2022 in Monaco / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: imago images/PanoramiC/Scanpix Credit imago images/PanoramiC/Scanpix

French side AS Monaco (12-13) suffered a defeat at home against Zalgiris Kaunas (4-19). The Lithuanian side interrupted a losing streak of 9 games, winning their first game on the road this season. The final score was 83-82 (18-23, 23-18, 25-18, 22-18)

Player of the Game EFF 23 Niels Giffey Points 15 Accuracy 3-3 Rebounds 5 Assists 1

In the final quarter, the game between the two teams remained very entertaining. Zalgiris stayed close and after an offensive foul made by Will Thomas, Lukas Lekavicius scored the two points that gave Zalgiris the one-point advantage (83-82). Mike James missed the last three-point shot and Zalgiris took the win.

After struggling in the first half, Zalgiris Kaunas started to climb back in the third quarter. Led by Arturas Milaknis and Joffrey Lauvergne, the Lithuanian side cut down Monaco's lead to just one point in the final seconds of the third quarter (62-61). A last-second bucket from Donta Hall gave Monaco a three-point lead heading into the final quarter (64-61)

In the second quarter, the French side kept extending their lead. Mike James was the main guy in the second quarter, leading Monaco on both ends of the floor. The American point guard scored 9 of his 13 points in the second quarter. Zalgiris struggled to remain in contact and finished the first half down by 10 (46-36)

Monaco did a very good job in the first quarter, led by the ex of the night: Donatas Motiejunas. The Lithuanian forward had 10 points in the first quarter and was the main reason behind Monaco's early lead. The French side finished up by 5 (23-18)

Niels Giffey was the top scorer for Zalgiris Kaunas with 15 points (1/1 2PT, 2/2 3PT, 7/7 FT), 5 rebounds, and 1 assist.

For Monaco, instead, the top scorers were Mike James and Dwyane Bacon, both with 18 points.

Zalgiris Kaunas: Niels Giffey 15, Arturas Milaknis 14, Joffrey Lauvergne 13

Monaco: Dwayne Bacon 18, Mike James 18, Donatas Motiejunas 12 (6 REB), Will Thomas 10

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