Monaco didn’t win this game in the opening minutes. It won it in the middle, then finished it at the end.
After falling behind early, Monaco (19-14) used a dominant second quarter and a 27-point fourth to secure a 90-85 EuroLeague win over Olimpia Milano (16-17) on Tuesday at Salle Gaston Medecin. Monaco’s ball movement stood out in the final margin: 20 assists to Milano’s 15.
How the game turned
Milano set the tone immediately, outscoring Monaco 25-13 in the first quarter and controlling the early rhythm. Monaco’s response was swift and emphatic: a 32-23 second quarter flipped the game into a halftime lead, creating the cushion Monaco needed when the game tightened later.
The third quarter swung back toward Milano. Another 25-point frame — matching its output from the first — pushed pressure onto Monaco heading into the fourth, with the visitors clearly comfortable playing in a faster, higher-scoring environment.
Monaco answered with its cleanest closing stretch of the night, winning the fourth quarter 27-12. That 15-point advantage in the final period was the separator in a five-point game, turning a tense finish into a controlled close.
Quarter-by-quarter snapshot
First quarter: Milano lands first punch
Milano’s 25 points in the opening period put Monaco on its heels, while Monaco managed just 13 — its lowest quarter of the night.
Second quarter: Monaco’s decisive run
Monaco’s 32-point second quarter was the offensive peak of the game for the home side. The swing wasn’t just scoring; it was also structure. Monaco finished with 20 assists, an indicator of how it generated cleaner looks as the game settled.
Third quarter: Milano keeps it a fight
Milano’s 25-point third quarter kept the scoreboard tight and ensured Monaco couldn’t coast. It was the visitors’ third 25-point quarter of the night, a sign they had enough offense to threaten even after losing the second.
Fourth quarter: Monaco closes the door
Everything hinged on the last 10 minutes — and Monaco won them 27-12. Milano’s offense stalled to 12 points, and Monaco’s execution carried it home.
Team takeaways
Monaco: late-game organization wins
Monaco’s assist edge (20 to 15) aligned with the eye test of the fourth quarter: better spacing, sharper decisions, and fewer empty possessions when the game demanded precision. That closing burst also reinforced Monaco’s current form (WWWLL), a team capable of absorbing runs and still dictating the final stretch.
Olimpia Milano: strong scoring quarters, one fatal lull
Milano produced three 25-point quarters (first and third at 25, plus 23 in the second), enough to win many nights. But the 12-point fourth quarter was too steep a drop-off, especially on the road. At 16-17 with recent form LLWWL, Milano showed it can generate offense in waves — the challenge is sustaining it when possessions tighten late.
What it means going forward
For Monaco, the win is a reminder that even when the start is messy, the ceiling is high when the ball moves — and the ability to win the fourth quarter by 15 points is a playoff-level trait.
For Milano, this one will sting: it built a real road win with its early and third-quarter scoring, then watched it slip in the final period. The margin for error at 16-17 is thin, and closing offense has to travel.