By Eurohoops / amolina@eurohoops.net
The final game of the LNB round turned out to be the most heated of all. ASVEL and Monaco faced off in a EuroLeague matchup marked by the absences in the Monegasque team.
In addition to the already known absences of Nemanja Nedović and Nikola Mirotić, the home team announced just minutes before tip-off that Elie Okobo and Daniel Theis would also miss the game. The difficult situation worsened with Mike James’ ejection for two technical fouls during the second quarter, a scenario that the Lyon side took advantage of to secure an 83–87 victory.
Alpha Diallo delivered a great performance with 26 points, while Matthew Strazel added 15 more. Shaquille Harrison scored 23 points to lead the visitors’ offense.
Despite finishing the first half ahead 40–34, it was only a matter of time before Monaco’s lack of depth took its toll.
Just before the end of the third quarter, ASVEL took the lead at 60–61 and controlled the game until the final buzzer. Despite attempts to respond, there was no comeback from the home side.
In the other EuroLeague-team matchup of the round, Paris Basketball defeated Cholet 93–99, with 25 points from Nadir Hifi.
LNB Round 27
Limoges – Nanterre 97-79
Cholet – Paris 93-99
Mónaco – Asvel Basket 83-87
Elan Chalon – JL Bourg 100-84
Gravelines-Dunkerque – Le Mans 83-96
Nancy – Le Portel 95-50
Saint Quentin – Strasbourg 109-87
Dijon – Boulazac 103-85
STANDINGS: AS Monaco (21-5), Paris Basketball (20-7), Nanterre (19-8)…