L’ASVEL saw an 18-point lead evaporate at the Arena de Décines-Charpieu on Friday, falling 105-92 to Valencia in the third round of the EuroLeague. Villeurbanne controlled the contest early, pushing ahead 60-42 in the 18th minute before collapsing in the second half to absorb their second defeat on the European stage.
An 18-Point Lead Evaporates in Décines-Charpieu
The French club caught fire in the opening two quarters, piling up 61 points before halftime. Australian Patty Mills set the early pace with 26 points in just 24 minutes on the floor, while Hugo Besson chipped in 19 points. The pair combined for seven three-pointers, culminating in a Besson jumper that gave the hosts their largest advantage of the evening at 60-42.
Yet Valencia chipped away before the break, narrowing the gap to 61-50 heading into the locker rooms. The momentum shift proved decisive when the visitors erased the remaining deficit less than five minutes into the third quarter, pulling ahead 65-64.
The Second-Half Collapse Against Valencia
Villeurbanne managed only 31 points after the intermission as the Spanish side dictated the tempo with a relentless offensive display. Valencia capitalized heavily on the glass, outrebounding the hosts 44 to 33 to sustain second-chance opportunities.
Two familiar faces from the French league inflicted the damage for the visitors. Nikola Mirotic, formerly of Monaco, posted 22 points, while former Paris player TJ Shorts orchestrated the attack with 17 points and six assists. Valencia accelerated decisively in the final period to secure their third victory, pushing themselves toward the upper echelon of the early EuroLeague standings.
Back-to-Back Century Concessions Stagger Villeurbanne
Friday’s setback follows another heavy defensive struggle on Wednesday, when Tony Parker’s side dropped a 102-79 decision away to Panathinaikos.
The Rhodaniens now pivot quickly back to domestic and European commitments. Villeurbanne travels to face Gravelines in the French championship on Sunday before returning to EuroLeague action Wednesday for a matchup against Paris, an opponent holding an identical 1-2 record in the competition.
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