Matthew Strazel stepped up for Monaco against Valencia
With Mike James unavailable due to injury in Round 30 of the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, AS Monaco had to fill the gap left by its main playmaker. On Friday night, against a Valencia Basket side looking to stay alive in the playoff race, the 20-year-old Matthew Strazel was one of the main players to come to the fore at Salle Gaston Medecin.
Monaco has now been without James in Rounds 28, 29 and 30 due to a mix of injury and suspension, yet Sasa Obradovic's team still found a way to win its fifth game in a row.
One of the backcourt players that was given a bigger opportunity in terms of minutes was Strazel, who averaged 6:49 and just 1.1 points and -0.4 PIR coming into this round. Nevertheless, Strazel came up big against Valencia, finishing with a season-high 13 points and 3 assists, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from downtown, and recording a PIR of 15.
It was not just about the numbers, though, as it was more to do with how and when he made his shots. Strazel was the solution for Monaco’s struggles from long distance in the first half, drilling the hosts' first three to nudge ahead, 33-32, in the second quarter. That preceded a 12-point run that allowed Monaco to build its first double-digit lead of the night. And later, early in the third, Strazel showed up again with a timely assist for Donatas Motiejunas's dunk, before scoring back-to-back triples to establish a 17-point margin and put Valencia on the ropes.
All of this came in his most minutes on the floor this season, as he stayed on the court for 19:26 minutes. His previous best took place only a couple of games ago, when he played 16:31 minutes in Spain against Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. In James's absence, Strazel has averaged more than 16 minutes per game over the last three contests, and it seems as though the young Frenchman is going from strength to strength.
Game Videos
- 00:34
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What a chasedown block from Loyd! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 01:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/06/We55GCyb95aRS9VcKbak1ymk1vDiTGxr-1733519741283.jpg]()
Vassilis Spanoulis: 'The sky is the limit for Juhann Begarin'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/14d39f0b-6aa5-43c3-b6df-b2345f29f683.jpg]()
AS Monaco-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:30
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/875bff03-bffd-4cda-ab32-9cfdd0bdcba7.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A52%3A38]()
What a block from Jordan Loyd! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/99858902-ebd8-45a3-b25a-ab680d9972dd.jpg?crop=1350%3A759%3Anowe%3A0%3A102]()
Papagiannis dunks after a brilliant pass from James! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/0Tz_Dl72DC0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7e18fc91-7b10-458b-ac54-e73b637e0544.jpg]()
AS Monaco-Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 02:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/29/zLorFj2YN8IkW6El92hB2AsJPV0o0mxd-1732919713234.jpg]()
Vassilis Spanoulis: 'You can tell this is a good team'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d6554e25-d46b-48d9-be89-9f220016aadb.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-AS Monaco | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4b6dd1a7-0956-4da4-967a-222bfbe53677.jpg?crop=929%3A523%3Anowe%3A0%3A160]()
Papagiannis blocks the way! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ffd34c62-98db-4e61-96c7-be082c86e6c5.jpg?crop=395%3A222%3Anowe%3A385%3A104]()
Blossomgame’s explosive slam! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b7272e42-e295-4671-9794-f450837be81d.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Valencia Basket | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/92036c7e-43fc-496b-bcce-052cef3340aa.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A182%3A57]()
Brimah's huge alley-oop slam! Magic Moment
- 01:02
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/21/NuKYb9Fv3Z5BmveA3mTEST0oZ3AzjqXa-1732220459024.jpg]()
Elie Okobo: 'We were sharing the ball way more than usual'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a909d165-7207-424a-9be5-85eea4e3b986.jpg]()
AS Monaco-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/847f94bd-629d-41d1-b530-da9cc31b1c4b.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A65%3A19]()
Okobo with the reverse layup! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ffd34c62-98db-4e61-96c7-be082c86e6c5.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A71%3A43]()
Blossomgame goes from defense to offense! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:01
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/14/Cduy8Ltsf97CbgwlSSjyFV44xIocLYdS-1731628385698.jpg]()
Elie Okobo: 'It’s time to start a winning streak'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/HvSCwENkNT4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz–AS Monaco | RS Round 10 highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/JWt32LiXnXE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a817d40c-c414-4a9c-b9d7-dd7f34dbf908.jpg]()
AS Monaco-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade| RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:26
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/08/0YFuI3IMBBGZiqRbhyKp5tqkBtMMJmoy-1731096181905.jpg]()
Georgios Papagiannis: 'It was a team effort'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5162b243-df0d-4adf-9aee-58c318e8f6a1.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-AS Monaco | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c86fe181-cb96-4ce5-a188-d9fdcfe7a82a.jpg?crop=1215%3A683%3Anowe%3A135%3A68]()
Papagiannis seals the win! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/rpdB_bwMSPs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Valencia Basket | Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/LqahQ4LBt5g/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-AS Monaco | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:10
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/31/Xnb8N9DnhXxIIhjp5Tve89bj4lQhMTrY-1730389617440.jpg]()
Elie Okobo: 'We showed team chemistry today'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/cR85V4i4Xos/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-AS Monaco | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2f585de3-ae99-4d2b-af39-0714da857484.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A132%3A81]()
Blossomgame with the alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Yl3bm2anffE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
AS Monaco-Paris Basketball | RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/696b2c6b-eb26-4c26-8a09-fbea0ad0cf49.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A105%3A43]()
Diallo out of nowhere! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/711bc31a-500c-4571-91eb-cec467cce94f.jpg]()
Turk Telekom Ankara-Valencia Basket | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b781181b-56cb-4db9-8c44-dae04725031c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A24%3A62]()
Lopez-Arostegui's magic assist! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ff28af3b-c960-4df2-bced-f9cc11f531b1.jpg?crop=764%3A430%3Anowe%3A0%3A48]()
Ojeleye throws it down! Magic Moment
- 01:58
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a56915b1-ff36-4c3f-84ad-d12c9a6d9a53.jpg?crop=1213%3A682%3Anowe%3A16%3A126]()
TJ Shorts: 'Monaco vs. Paris is going to be a true rivalry'
- 00:47
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/18/B2QwwvAxVEX8N6oBwtrORwB12fEoT6mM-1729293134568.jpg]()
Mike James: 'As long as we win, I feel better about myself'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/da17fc2b-aa4d-4b86-9785-6be82220890a.jpg]()
AS Monaco-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d2833132-b313-4d70-a4e9-08daab78e035.jpg?crop=642%3A361%3Anowe%3A318%3A32]()
A smooth dunk by Jaiteh! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/_F4D3JtmDtE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/98fe1034-e356-4b84-9203-82896f861be4.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A193%3A89]()
Montero denies Moretti! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/29d2bfc4-8cc5-4e99-b501-24ed5a2f111e.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-AS Monaco | RS Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:00
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/09/4k0mOGjuTMxXKcbnUIdSR6ihAryrok4v-1728504882444.jpg]()
Mike James: 'It's a great way for us to start the season'
- 03:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/09/sHBnOXNk7FZQUeamRJsX3FlRCHvYoyrs-1728503685858.jpg]()
AS Monaco-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 03:48
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/09/cQhjRbA9q1Cmm9p0gscm01y8OatbxvGN-1728499844772.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Valencia Basket | Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ce0787bc-b437-407c-96d6-ee161e254e18.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A118%3A67]()
No-looking show from Jaiteh! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/30eeb859-c5ef-4068-b98c-02acae7c6aaf.jpg?crop=1318%3A742%3Anowe%3A12%3A42]()
Great no-look pass by Stefan Jovic! Magic Moment
- 03:56
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9b88dcef-134f-4928-9415-b6bdf8ac15fb.jpg]()
AS Monaco-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:39
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/03/PZ9twdsc0Jvy0yL5GK4RVEwldKlWKr5w-1727984983689.jpg]()
Sasa Obradovic: 'It was over my expectations'
- 03:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/02/K57EpeZHI58SFCGEHVzbYZpH02EJQTXa-1727905651100.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c5b414fa-9d2c-4fcb-84c6-bf718d8b003b.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A138%3A25]()
Magic Moment: Montero’s magical assist!
