While Orléans, Paris and Fos-sur-Mer are still on borrowed time, Le Portel ensured his retention in the top flight on Tuesday with a shot from seven meters seven tenths from the final gong of his US winger Devin Davis (22 points) on the Bourg-en-Bresse floor (86-83).
This fourth victory in a row now puts the team coached by Eric Girard out of reach of a return from its rivals. And ironically at the bottom of the table, it is the last of the class, Châlons-Reims, already relegated, who plays the referees since after beating Paris (100-77) last week, Champagne Basket in a final kick-off nose offered Orleans in his room Tuesday after two extensions (111-110) thanks to a double step left hand at the buzzer of Michael Stockton (22 points).
Paris is in a critical situation tonight after a third defeat in a row, this time at home against Limoges (85-70) who accelerated in the fourth quarter in the footsteps of Demonte Harper (31 points).
The capital club, promoted last year, will have to win at Levallois next Tuesday or count on a defeat of Fos-sur-Mer at Portel because it does not have the advantage (two defeats) in the event of a equality on the club of the Marseille periphery. Fos did not miss the opportunity to dominate Roanne (100-84 with 30 points from Deishuan Booker), who had nothing more to fear or hope for. A setback from Orleans which will also play its head at Gravelines can also allow Paris to get out of it in the event of defeat at Levallois.
Strasbourg assure sa place en play-offs
The CSP will be in the top 6 for sure and fourth, with home advantage in the first round of the play-offs, if they don’t lose anymore. But he will receive Saturday, in a late match, and Tuesday May 17 for the last day, the two ogres, Monaco then Asvel, who are also seeking to ensure the best possible place before the final phase.
Monaco, intractable at home against Nanterre (84-66), consolidated its second place but will have to win in Limoges, beat Cholet and count on a setback from Asvel to take pole position for the season. The defending champion, who quickly put Cholet at bay on Tuesday (60-33 in the third quarter) before loosening the grip and winning a tenth success in a row (87-72), would have the advantage in the event of a equality of victories with the “Roca Team”.
Strasbourg secured its place in the play-offs by disposing of Le Mans (89-81), beaten for the eighth time in nine matches. The MSB is not mathematically out of the Top 8 but must win against Dijon next Tuesday and count on a three-way goal average with Cholet and Nanterre, both beaten on Tuesday.
Dijon, clear winner of Gravelines-Dunkerque (99-85) and Strasbourg have secured their place in the top 6. Two places in the final phase remain to be distributed. Pau, which conceded a fourth at home in a row, this time by Boulogne-Levallois (71-86), Cholet, Le Mans and Nanterre are still in the race but no longer Bourg-en-Bresse. It will be hot all the way.
