Adam Williams presents his prediction for the EuroLeague match.
Many expected a closely fought opening to this EuroLeague play-off series, but AS Monaco Basket had other ideas. The team gave Barcelona Bàsquet no chance, cruising to a commanding 97:80 win. Now, the only question is what Joan Peñarroya can do to spark a response.
AS Monaco Basket
AS Monaco Basket delivered an almost flawless display at both ends of the court. Mike James and Daniel Theis were unstoppable, each tallying 22 points. The squad's defensive performance stood out, recording nine steals and forcing 18 turnovers. Their rim protection was particularly effective: Barcelona Bàsquet shot a modest 52.8% from inside the paint and had four shot attempts blocked.
Barcelona Bàsquet
Barcelona Bàsquet looked like a shadow of their usual selves in Game 1. Jabari Parker, a key offensive contributor, endured a poor outing—scoring just seven points on 3-of-9 shooting. Kevin Punter also struggled in key moments, closing the game with only 16 points. It's worth highlighting that over the course of the season, Barcelona Bàsquet led the EuroLeague in pressing defence, averaging 7.5 steals per game. However, they managed just five in this encounter.
AS Monaco Basket vs Barcelona Bàsquet Prediction
Despite the heavy loss in the opener, expectations remain relatively optimistic, with a modest handicap of +5.5 offered on Barcelona Bàsquet. While such a margin might be within reach on home court, the squad is unlikely to recover quickly enough to shift the momentum in Monaco. They are not expected to cover this spread.
