Nanterre dominates Monaco, Limoges unscrews in Strasbourg, the Champagne Basket miracle
Nanterre-Monaco: 87-83
Two days after their success in Munich (83-78) and three before a trip to Villeurbanne in the Euroleague, Monaco once again lowered their heads in Betclic Elite away from home (fourth defeat in seven trips), this time to Nanterre ( 83-87) this Saturday, and can share second place on Sunday with Le Mans, which hosts Asvel.
With a degraded cast – Mike James, Donatas Motiejunas resting, Dwayne Bacon unqualified, Leo Westermann and Donte Hall injured – the “Roca Team” was dominated most of the second half, especially under the circles where Chris Horton delivered a mammoth game (23 points to 11 of 14, 10 rebounds).
A worthy successor to Zvezdan Mitrovic, coach Sasa Obradovic was expelled for two technical fouls in the money-time, while his team had returned to six lengths (78-72) against sixteen (76-60) four minutes earlier and had the wind at your back. Ibrahima Fall Faye broke his personal points record (24 points) but the Monegasque shooters had their fingers frozen (5 out of 18 from 3 points, 1/7 for Danilo Andjusic).
Nanterre, which goes positive (7 wins-6 losses), also relied on Adam Mokoka (19 points, career record) to seal a second convincing success in 2022 after Pau (101-77) the previous week.
Strasbourg-Limoges: 97-66
After four wins in a row, including two on the floors of Monaco (83-73) and Asvel (85-83), Limoges unscrewed on the floor of Strasbourg (66-97, the biggest disbursements of the season). The best defense of Betclic Élite, until then, sank against Alsatians on appeal from a surprising defeat in Reims (98-106), remobilized and euphoric (21 points for Matt Mitchell, 20 for DeAndre Lansdowne).
CJ Massinburg (17 points, 3 assists) could not work a miracle for Limougeauds who were never in the game (10-25 after 10 minutes) and who probably had too much to manage, between the last minute announcement of the test positive for Hugo Invernizzi’s Covid, Gerry Blakes’ injury for the rest of the season and the reinstatement of Nicolas Lang (15 points, 4/9 at 3 points). The SIG joins Le Mans in 3rd place in the standings (9-5).
Bourg-en-Bresse – Châlons-Reims: 97-98 AD
Jessie Begarin came forward and revealed no obvious pass, rose despite the raised arms of Bressan Jalen Jones. There were 6 seconds left on the clock, but the 3-point arrow found the target for the back of Champagne Basket, who thus crucified Bourg at the end of extra time. Before the end of regulation time, the same Begarin had already tied the two teams (81-81) while Bourg seemed to have taken control for good.
With 21 points (one less than his record, 22, last week against Strasbourg), 5/8 from 3 points, and 13 assists (career record), the veteran (33 years old) has just delivered the two most achievements of his entire pro career. He was magnificently assisted by Enzo Goudou-Sinha (24 points including the 3 points of the equalizer at the 1 tenth of the buzzer of regulation time) and Gani Lawal (19 points, 8 rebounds). Champagne Basket confirms its revival after its success against Strasbourg (106-98) and shares 14th place (6-10) with Paris, winner of the leader Boulogne-Levallois.
Bourg’s nightmare (12th, 7-9) continues. The Bressans, who came out of a good performance in the Eurocup against Bologna (82-83), started by conceding a 22 to 2 after 7 minutes! They only owed their improbable comeback to the revolt instilled by fullback Rasheed Sulaimon (35 points, career record, 7/10 from 3 points), and the selflessness of Alexandre Chassang (19 points, 7/ 11) while Axel Julien had a nightmare (0 point in 25 min). At the start of the last two minutes of extra time, the men still had the cards in hand (95-90). But ended up cracking.