The visitors took control of the game in the second half
Zvezda tops Monaco on the road, 90-98
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade proved too strong for AS Monaco on Tuesday night with a 90-98 come-from-behind win at Salle Gaston Medecin. After allowing 54 first-half points, Zvezda held the hosts to just 36 in the last 20 minutes. The result left both teams with 5-4 records.
Filip Petrusev dominated with 25 points – including 11 of 11 free-throw shooting – and Codi Miller-McIntyre added 20 points for the winners. Isaiah Canaan knocked down 3 three-pointers in scoring 11 and Nikola Kalinic contributed 8 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for Zvezda. Elie Okobo and Mike James each netted 20 in defeat and Donatas Motiejunas and Jordan Loyd scored 10 points apiece.
Game Videos
Donatas Motiejunas banked in a hook shot and James took a steal in for a layup as Monaco took charge. Nikola Kalinic put the visitors on the scoreboard only to see threes by Vitto Brown and Jordan Loyd make it 10-2, prompting a Zvezda timeout. Kalinic came to the rescue with a triple and soon a slam by Uros Plavnic and 4 points by Miller-McIntyre had Zvezda within 15-11. The Zvezda guard then tied the score at 16-16 with a three-pointer. Petrusev heated up and gave the visitors their first lead, 20-21, with a three-point play. Georgios Papagiannis evened things at 26-26 after 10 minutes.
Okobo and Petrusev swapped threes in the first minute of the second quarter, which gave Petrusev 10 points on the night. Petr Cornelie, making his first appearance of the season, attacked the basket for a three-point play and Loyd buried a jumper as Monaco went back ahead. Petrusev and Isaiah Canaan kept Zvezda close, while Okobo continued to generate offense for the hosts. Yago Dos Santos’s first score drew Zvezda within 41-39 midway through the quarter. Matthew Strazel scored the next 5 points for Monaco before Canaan answered with his third three of the night. Monaco twice extended the lead back out to 8 before Nemanja Nedovic’s steal and layup made it 54-48 at the break.
Rokas Giedraitis beat the shot clock with a three from the corner and Miller-McIntyre sank free throws to trim Zvezda’s deficit to 56-53 early in the second half. Soon after, the latter’s stutter move evened the game at 60-60. Despite another basket from Okobo, Petrusev’s three-pointer gave Zvezda the lead, 62-63, midway through the third quarter. Miller-McIntyre added a three-point play in transition before James answered with a jumper for Monaco. The teams traded points for several minutes and Zvezda held its slim lead until Okobo beat the third-quarter buzzer with a jumper that tied the score at 74-74.
Luka Mitrovic nosed Zvezda back in front and Milos Teodosic added a three-pointer. His next three gave Zvezda a promising 76-84 cushion. Motiejunas revived the hosts, but Petrusev kept Zvezda humming. Loyd connected from deep to get the hosts within 4 with 3 minutes remaining, however Petrusev continued to shine for Zvezda with a rebound and 2 more free throws. A triple by Canaan with 2 minutes left was another blow to Monaco. Giedraitis made it 85-94. Miller-McIntyre fouled out and James scored 5 points as Monaco tried to chase down the visitors, but it was too little, too late, as Petrusev put the game on ice.