The truce is over in Betclic Elite. After ten days of a well-deserved break, Monaco, which had a difficult start to the year 2024 (18 Euroleague, Cup and Championship matches in a month and a half), traveled this Wednesday evening to the of Paris La Défense Arena to welcome the team in form of the moment, Nanterre.
Beaten in the final of the Leaders Cup by Paris (90-85), the Ile-de-France club hoped to take advantage of this gala evening, in front of 15,767 spectators – the second largest attendance in history for a Championship match after the 16,319 in March 2023 of Nanterre-Asvel in the same room -, to confirm its current dynamic. But the Championship leader held his place.
Mike James boiling from the start…
He owes it in large part to Mike James, who tormented the Nanter defense and broke his Betclic Elite points record (31 points, plus 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 interceptions), notably thanks to a great start to the match. A first three-pointer after barely five seconds of play, mid-distance shots in spades: the American leader scored 15 points in the first quarter alone and allowed ASM, well supported by Alpha Diallo (15 points) and Donatas Motiejunas (12 points) to take a very comfortable lead at the break (54-36).
But Nanterre showed extraordinary resources after returning from the locker room, first thanks to Benjamin Sene (17 points) who did everything to sound the revolt, and especially in the fourth quarter, which started with a huge 17-2 which brought the premises back to three lengths (74-71) and ignited the Ile-de-France arena. The enormous work of Desi Rodriguez (15 points, 8 rebounds) even allowed Pascal Donnadieu’s collective to come back to a small point (81-80) less than a minute from the buzzer… before Mike James reimposed his law.
…then kills the match in the last minute
The second highest scorer in the history of the Euroleague, after a nasty “air ball” sent 50 seconds from the buzzer, did not let himself be taken down. He resumed his responsibilities in a one-on-one situation straight away and gave his team some fresh air (83-80), then intercepted the Nanter ball for the equalizer, caused a foul and succeeded in his three throws (86-80). ). Mass was said.
2024-02-28 21:18:19
#Betclic #Élite #Monaco #resists #return #Nanterre #Paris #Defense #Arena
