PIRAEUS. Olympiacos delivered a dominant 94-64 victory over AS Monaco in Game 2 of the EuroLeague playoffs, led by Sasha Vezenkov and featuring the ejection of Mike James, to take a 2-0 series lead and move one win away from the Final Four.
The Greek team came out with overwhelming intensity from the opening tip, dominating both ends of the floor and establishing a significant lead early. With fluid offense and solid defense, Olympiacos progressively expanded its advantage and broke open the game before halftime.
The pivotal moment came just before the break. With the score already at a commanding 59-31 (+28), Mike James was ejected after receiving two consecutive technical fouls for protesting to the referees, leaving AS Monaco without its primary offensive reference. The American point guard finished with 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in a first half that was already clearly tilted toward the home side.
Despite this, AS Monaco attempted a comeback after halftime. Led by Kevarrius Hayes (11 points), alongside Alpha Diallo and Mathew Strazel (10 each), the visiting team managed to cut the deficit to 16 points (72-56), providing a slight sense of recovery.
However, Olympiacos' response was immediate and decisive. A devastating 15-0 run reopened the gap and left AS Monaco without options down the stretch. Sasha Vezenkov was once again the offensive reference with 21 points and 7 rebounds, well supported by Evan Fournier, who contributed 16 points and 7 assists. Shaquielle McKissic added 11 and Thomas Walkup chipped in 10 in another well-rounded performance by the Greek squad.
The game also revealed secondary details for Olympiacos, such as foul trouble for Nikola Milutinov, who finished with 4 points and 4 rebounds, or the modest contribution from Tyler Dorsey, who scored just 2 points.
The victory reinforces Olympiacos' dominance in this EuroLeague playoff series, following their win in the first game, solidifying their strong competitive moment in the fight for the title.
With a 2-0 series lead, Olympiacos will now travel to Monaco with the opportunity to close out the series in Game 3, while AS Monaco will be forced to win on May 5 if they want to stay alive in the EuroLeague playoffs.