Multiple protagonists were key to Monaco's win in Tel Aviv

AS Monaco was aware that it would take something more than just an outstanding individual performance to beat Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv on the road. Jordan Loyd went 5-for-5 on two-pointers, 5-for-9 from behind the arc and 8-for-9 on free throws for a career-high 33 points to inspire Monaco to a Game 2 win, but the visitors were assigned the tough task of coming out victorious in Tel Aviv after losing at home in the first game of the series.

This means that Monaco needed one win to get back the home-court advantage and this victory had to come on a court where Maccabi lost just two of their 17 Turkish Airline EuroLeague games to date this season. Boasting the best home record in the regular season, Maccabi saw its fans again create an incredible atmosphere at Menora Mivtachim Arena on Tuesday night. Yet, Monaco didn't hold back, with all their players pitching in throughout the game to celebrate a well-earned road victory.

"In each part of the game, there was someone who contributed," Monaco head coach Sasa Obradovic explained at his post-game press conference. "In the first half, it was Mike [James], later Jordan, then Elie [Okobo] in some moments in the last quarter together with [Alpha] Diallo. It was a pretty good team win."

Indeed, James got off to a great start, scoring 9 points in each of the first two quarters to set the tone for Monaco, who took a 32-41 lead into halftime. Maccabi was able cut the deficit down to 42-46 after the break, but Loyd scored his third three-pointer in the game for a 42-49 Monaco lead and helped his team maintain it after taking his tally to 13 points.

Meanwhile, Okobo was having a quiet night in the first half, when he registered just 2 points. But the Monaco guard stepped up in the last two quarters, when he scored 10 points, including some important free throws to keep the guests on the front foot. As for Diallo, he went just 1-for-6 from the field, but he was money from the foul line, downing 7 of his 8 shots free throws (87.5%), including a pair with the score at 78-81 with 00:06 to play to put the game to bed.

"We did a pretty good job offensively and defensively," Monaco center Donatas Motiejunas said after. "We were in control for most of the game. I am really proud of our guys. Everyone contributed something – some more, others less – but everyone put their hearts and souls on the court. This brought us the win."

Motiejunas was solid, too. He paired his 9 points with 6 boards and 2 assists for a PIR of 16 – tied for the team's best along with James. All but one of the 11 Monaco players who featured in Game 3 scored at least 1 point, while as many as 9 players recorded at least a rebound apiece. Monaco's hustle paid dividends as the visitors managed to complete a series turnaround despite their Game 1 home loss by grabbing victory on a court where leaders Olympiacos Piraeus, third-placed Real Madrid and another 13 teams failed to do so in the regular season.

If Monaco can do that again on Thursday, it will qualify for the Final Four already. If not, Monaco has at least assured itself Game 5 back in the principality. Either way, winning two games after losing an opener has flipped Monaco's odds. First-game losers in the playoffs have gone on to lose 88.6% of the 44 five-game series since 2009. Teams that started with home-court advantage and lead 2-1, however, have made the Final Four 24 out of 24 times.