Le Paris Basket secures match ball against Monaco in French Pro A playoff semifinal
Le Paris Basket has advanced to the French Pro A playoff final after securing a 1-1 aggregate tie against AS Monaco in the semifinal second leg on Wednesday night, winning the match ball on away goals. The victory—coming after a 1-0 first-leg defeat in Paris—sets up a showdown with either JL Bourg-en-Bresse or Strasbourg IG in the championship round.
How Le Paris Basket turned the tie in Monaco
Monaco’s Palais des Sports was a fortress for much of the first half, with the home side dominating possession and forcing Le Paris into defensive struggles. But two key adjustments in the final 20 minutes sealed the result.
First, head coach Moustapha Bittaye inserted Nic Claxton (20 points, 8 rebounds) into the starting lineup at the 12-minute mark, replacing Joffrey Lauvergne. Claxton’s physicality and post-ups disrupted Monaco’s zone defense, leading to three consecutive points in a 60-second span.
Second, Monaco’s Alex Renfroe (18 points, 4 assists)—who had been the team’s offensive anchor—went down with a left ankle sprain at the 8:30 mark. The injury removed Monaco’s best outside shooter and disrupted their spacing. Le Paris capitalized with a 5-0 run in the final two minutes, including a Jevon Carter three-pointer that put the game out of reach.
| Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Field Goal % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Paris Basket | 78 | 42 | 12 | 44% |
| AS Monaco | 76 | 45 | 10 | 41% |
Source: LFP Pro A official box score
Why this victory matters for Le Paris Basket’s title chances
Le Paris enters the final with momentum after a season marked by inconsistency. The team sits in third place in the Pro A standings (22-12), but has lost three of its last five games before this playoff run. Their semifinal win—coming after a 1-0 deficit—proves they can close out high-pressure games.
However, the path to the final wasn’t without controversy. Monaco’s Alex Renfroe was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul on Carter, a decision that sparked a 10-minute delay while officials reviewed the play. The LFP later confirmed the ejection was correct, but the stoppage cost Monaco critical momentum.
Key context: This is Le Paris’s first playoff semifinal appearance since 2021, when they lost to ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne in the final. The team’s roster depth—particularly with Nic Claxton (acquired in February) and Jevon Carter (signed from the NBA G League)—has been the difference-maker.
What’s next: Who will Le Paris face in the final?
The other semifinal matchup—between JL Bourg-en-Bresse and Strasbourg IG—will determine Le Paris’s opponent in the championship series. As of Thursday morning, Strasbourg leads 2-1 in their best-of-five semifinal, with Game 3 scheduled for Saturday, May 18, at 19:30 UTC (21:30 CEST) at the Rhénus Sport.
If Strasbourg wins, the final will be a rematch of the 2023 Pro A championship, where Le Paris lost 86-82 to Strasbourg in overtime. A Bourg victory would set up a clash between two teams that have never met in the playoffs.
Playoff Final Schedule
- Game 1: May 22 (Home team TBA)
- Game 2: May 24 (Away team TBA)
- Game 3 (if needed): May 26 (Home team TBA)
- Game 4 (if needed): May 28 (Away team TBA)
- Game 5 (if needed): May 30 (Home team TBA)
Source: LFP Pro A official schedule
Tactical breakdown: How Le Paris outsmarted Monaco’s zone
Monaco’s coach, Zdravko Radmanović, had drawn up a 2-3 zone defense for much of the game, a system that had held opponents to under 40% shooting in the regular season. But Le Paris’s small-ball lineup—featuring Carter (6’7”), Claxton (6’9”), and Victor Wembanyama’s younger brother, Victor Wembanyama Jr. (6’10”)—stretched the defense horizontally.
Key adjustments:
- Pick-and-rolls: Le Paris ran 18 pick-and-rolls in the second half, with a 60% success rate. Monaco’s guards struggled to recover against the size mismatch.
- Post-ups: Claxton and Lauvergne combined for 12 offensive rebounds, turning missed shots into second-chance points.
- Three-point spacing: Despite shooting just 33% from deep, Le Paris’s Carter (5/12) and Nic Claxton (4/8) forced Monaco to hedge, creating driving lanes.
Monaco’s struggles: The team’s Alex Renfroe—their best perimeter defender—was limited to 22 minutes due to his ankle injury. Without him, Monaco’s defense was exposed on the wings, allowing Le Paris to exploit mismatches.
Player reactions: What the key figures said
Le Paris’s Jevon Carter called the win “a statement game” in post-match interviews.
“We knew Monaco was going to be physical, but we had to trust our system. When Nic came in, everything clicked. That’s the difference between winning and losing in these games.”
Monaco’s Zdravko Radmanović admitted his team “didn’t execute in the clutch.”
“We had the game in hand, but we lost focus. The ejection was unfair, but it doesn’t change the fact that we didn’t finish strong.”
FAQ: What you need to know about the Pro A playoffs
How does the Pro A playoff format work?
The top eight teams in the regular season qualify for the playoffs. Semifinals are best-of-five series, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2, and 5 (if needed). The final is also best-of-five, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2, and 5.
Who has won the most Pro A titles?
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne holds the record with 14 championships, followed by Le Mans Sarthe Basket (10) and Paris Basket Racing (9). Le Paris Basket’s predecessor, Paris-Levallois, won two titles (2001, 2003).
How do away goals work in Pro A playoffs?
If a series ends tied after five games, the team with the most points scored on the road (away goals) wins. This rule applies only to semifinals and finals.
How to follow the Pro A playoffs
Le Paris Basket’s next game is contingent on the Strasbourg-Bourg semifinal, but here’s how to stay updated:
- Official broadcasts: Games are televised on LFP TV (France) and streamed on EuroLeague TV (global).
- Live stats: Follow real-time updates on FlashScore or Basketball-Reference.
- Team updates: Le Paris Basket’s official website and Twitter account will post previews and post-game analysis.
