Monaco, which aims to qualify for the Top 8 at the end of the season, will have to win on December 15 in Kaunas, the red lantern of the competition, in order to break the current negative spiral.
The Principality's team has not won in the Euroleague since November 12 against Bayern Munich (94-71).
And its star Mike James played only 2'42 "against Milan.
"He wanted to play," said coach Zvezdan Mitrovic.
"But he hadn't come back well from his injury. It was too dangerous for him. I wanted to protect him for the next game. I decided he wouldn't play anymore."
From the start of the meeting, the Monegasques knew that they would have to come up with the perfect match to win against the team of legendary coach Ettore Messina.
Milan and its iron defense undermined the offensive tendencies of Dwayne Bacon and others.
Led by a good Sharon Shield then a skillful Sergio Rodriguez, Milan quickly broke away (2-9, 4th).
It took a superb job from Donatas Motiejunas for Monaco to change for a moment (8-11, 6th).
But the Milanese collective game as well as the awkwardness of the players of the "Roca Team" (1/9 to three points at half-time) gradually had the effect of a steamroller.
At the end of the first quarter, Milan were already 12 points ahead (14-26).
Even if an action by the two best Monegasques (pass from Paris Lee for a dunk from Donta Hall) woke up the Monegasque public, even if the defense that followed was perfect, Milan did not give in and accentuated the ferocity of his defense.
Besides, Hall and then Bacon were physically abused.
Mike James, therefore, played too little to weigh.
After leading by 16 points (23-39, 18th), Milan reached the break at +12 (27-39).
On resumption, Monaco deceived for a few minutes, before giving up (44-57 at the end of the 3rd quarter).
Eight minutes from the end, Milan, who led by 21 units (44-65), managed.
Quietly ... Even if Monaco came back to 6 points (65- 71), it was too late.
© 2021 AFP