AS Monaco delivered one of its most dominant performances of the season on Wednesday night, overpowering Anadolu Efes 102-66 at Salle Gaston Médecin in a result that immediately reshaped the Turkish club’s sideline.
Efes announced on Thursday that it had parted ways with head coach Igor Kokoskov, a decision that followed the third-worst loss in the organization’s EuroLeague history.
Monaco controlled each phase of the matchup, building its advantage behind efficient interior scoring, aggressive defense, and a 31-of-33 free-throw showing that kept the hosts in command from start to finish.
The home side opened with a 25-22 first quarter and repeated the 25-point mark in the second, taking a 50-43 edge into halftime.
Monaco widened the gap in the third with a 20-10 frame, then closed the night with a dominant 32-13 finish to secure a 36-point margin.
Daniel Theis led Monaco with 17 points on 7-for-7 shooting inside the arc, providing stability in the paint and giving his team a reliable halfcourt option.
Alpha Diallo added 13 points and four rebounds, while Kemba Hayes contributed 12 in a balanced showing that featured six double-digit scorers.
Mike James posted seven points and six assists in 24 minutes, helping Monaco generate 28 assists against just nine turnovers.
Elie Okobo and Yoan Makoundou each scored nine, with Makoundou converting all five of his free throws to cap his brief but impactful performance.
Jaron Blossomgame and Nikola Mirotic chipped in with six and nine points respectively, expanding the margin as Monaco maintained pressure across all rotations.
Efes struggled to find rhythm throughout the night, finishing with 23 turnovers and allowing 15 steals that repeatedly turned into transition points for the hosts.
Isaia Cordinier led the visiting side with 16 points, supported by Jordan Loyd’s 13, but Efes could not overcome rebounding disadvantages and inconsistent defensive possessions.
The visitors were outrebounded 33-21 and held to 61.5 percent shooting on two-point attempts due to limited opportunities inside, as Monaco’s compact rotations kept dribble penetration to a minimum.
Efes shot 9-for-24 from three but failed to string together sustained runs after halftime.
The loss dropped Efes to 5-8, tied for 14th in the EuroLeague standings, prompting the club’s swift coaching change.
Radovan Trifunovic, who worked alongside Kokoskov during Slovenia’s 2017 EuroBasket championship run, will serve as interim head coach while the organization searches for a permanent replacement.
Monaco improved to 8-5 with the win and extended its surge under Vassilis Spanoulis, who has used his deep rotation and steady defensive schemes to stabilize the group through November.
Monaco hosts Paris Basketball next Thursday, while Efes returns home to face Real Madrid in Round 14.
