The first 100% French Championship duel of the Euroleague season turned to Monaco’s advantage, Friday against Asvel (80-70). The seventh victory in a row for the Roca Team against its great national rival, since the epilogue of the Betclic Élite 2022 final. Under the eyes of its owner Tony Parker, Asvel nevertheless came very close to breaking its black streak .
Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (18 points, 4 assists) took advantage of his size advantage over Mike James to plant seven points in a row. The international winger, hero of the Rhone victory in Kaunas, then launched a shower of winning baskets on Monaco, imitated by Nando De Colo then Charles Kahudi to conclude an excellent first quarter for Asvel (14-23, 10th ).
But Villeurbanne quickly paid for his risky passes towards the interior – central point of the game wanted by Gianmarco Pozzecco since his arrival – en route to an evening with 17 turnovers. Entering in James’ place, Élie Okobo (16 points, 4 assists) chained baskets against De Colo, powerless to stop the sharp drives of the ex-Asvel player (30-34, 16th). Two winning shots from Alpha Diallo later, and Monaco took the lead at the break (41-37, 20th), without having convinced.
Alpha Diallo decisive, Monaco in contact with the top 3
Far from the level displayed in their four previous successes in the Euroleague, Sasa Obradovic’s players failed to make up the difference after returning from the locker room. Well muzzled, James fell back into one of his old demons by insulting the referees, while his teammates abused the three-point shot, without success. More precise in the exercise, Paris Lee put Asvel back in front at the end of the third quarter (57-58, 28th).
Pozzecco’s players took up to six points in advance (57-63, 31st) before seeing Monaco come back together thanks to a winning skill found. At a tense end to the match, the Italian coach even came close to a second technical foul by sprinting on his sidelines, in disbelief at an unwhistled walk from Donta Hall. On a thread, his troops ended up giving up.
James (15 points, 6 of 15 shooting) planted a crucial winning basket before the action of the match signed Alpha Diallo. Already author of five three-point shots, the American-Guinean winger (21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 interceptions) converted a sixth on the head of Luwawu-Cabarrot, guilty of a foul, to knock out Asvel ( 75-68, 38th). Monaco signs its fifth victory in a row in the Euroleague and moves up to third place in the competition behind undefeated Real Madrid and Barcelona. Asvel remains bottom with Berlin, but confirms the progress seen since the arrival of Pozzecco.
2023-11-10 21:49:10
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