In this Game 3 against Nanterre, the Roca Team asserted its status as the favorite in the semi-final. The Monégasques take the lead before facing their opponent again on Monday to try to gain a definitive advantage.
The semi-final had taken on a balanced turn after the first two games played in the Principality, where the Roca Team and Nanterre had parted evenly. The ASM, initially solid in the opening match, had then let slip a second appointment that was nonetheless controlled for long stretches. This sharing of points had shifted the pressure to the Paris suburbs, where the Maurice-Thorez Sports Palace was about to host two decisive matches.
Nanterre, buoyed by its physical impact and authoritative finish in Game 2, approached this return home with the momentum of a team capable of upsetting the favorite. Monaco, despite a squad still missing several key players, hoped to regain control before a possible Game 5 could redistribute everything.
Rebound management, already problematic in the Principality, appeared to be one of the essential levers to avoid suffering from the opponent’s tempo. In this context, this Game 3 promised to be a pivotal moment, likely to sustainably influence the series’ momentum.
A Roca Team solid on defense
After a balanced start to the match in which the Monégasques struggled to get going, notably a sloppy Jaron Blossomgame early on, things clarified quickly. Still without Mike James, Nikola Mirotic and Daniel Theis, the men of Sergii Gladyr and Manuchar Markoishvili relied on Elie Okobo (23 points, four rebounds, five assists) and Matthew Strazel (21 points, four rebounds, four assists). Clinical under the basket, Kevarrius Hayes also weighed in on the match with seven rebounds, as did Alpha Diallo, who controlled AS Monaco’s transition play. Despite being uncertain before the match, the Guinean did much good in transition play. Everything ultimately played out in the second quarter, after which Monaco took a +15 lead.
Across the way, Nanterre, down for almost the entire match, failed to find the resources as they did in the fourth quarter of Game 2 to trouble the visitors. Lacking accuracy, Paul Lacombe was the only one to keep his head above water in this game with 13 points scored. Asphyxiated by Monégasque defense, there was nothing the Île-de-France team could do, losing the home advantage they had acquired Thursday. The Roca Team played their game without forcing to win (61-83) and regain the advantage in this semi-final.
The Nanterre players will need to deliver a big performance on Monday if they hope to play one final match in the Principality.
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