AS Monaco Basketball loses in Game 2 of the semi-finals against Nanterre, 89 to 98. After leading throughout the match, the Roca Boys crumble in the final quarter.
Two matches at Gaston Médecin and a tied series score! After leading throughout the game, AS Monaco Basketball loses in the final moments of the match (89-98). A Monaco team that played physically, with only eight players used in this Game 2.
The Principality’s players must respond, 48 hours after their victory in Game 1 of the series. The Betclic Élite playoff semi-finals continue on the Gaston Médecin court. Monaco wants to respond tonight and back Nanterre against the wall in this series, before traveling to the Île-de-France region.
A good start for the Roca Team
The Roca Team fields the same players as in Game 1. Nikola Mirotic, Daniel Theis, Alpha Diallo and Mike James remain absent. Despite a depleted roster, AS Monaco Basketball starts the match in the best possible way. Monaco is in form from beyond the arc tonight. The Monegasques display a solid 3/6 in this area, after ten minutes of play.
A better accuracy than that of the Parisians. A difference that shows on the scoreboard at the end of this first quarter. The players from the Rock lead 23 to 19. Monaco also benefits from Nanterre’s indiscipline (seven fouls in this quarter). The battle on the boards is the only area where the Roca Team is dominated, outrageously so, with six rebounds to twelve for their opponent.
The Roca Team on fire from 3-point range
Building on their first quarter performance, the club from the Rock is in total success from 3-point range. In the second quarter, the Monegasques make six three-pointers in seven attempts. Excellent shooting that allows them to pull away on the scoreboard before halftime (53-41).
On the boards, things balanced out. As in Game 1 of the series, the Roca Team corrected course in this area of the game as the match progressed. Two individuals stand out in this first half. Blossomgame scored 15 points. Elie Okobo finishes these first 20 minutes with 12 points and six assists.
The Roca Team shaken up after halftime
Matthew Strazel’s teammates struggle at the start of the third quarter. The Monegasques score their first basket of the second half after more than two minutes and 30 seconds. Nanterre closes to within a possession of Sergii Gladyr’s men (58-55). Yet the Roca Boys don’t panic. They rely on tough defense to overcome temporary shooting struggles.
Monaco finishes the third quarter well. The Monegasques hold a nine-point lead (71-62), with ten minutes left in the game. Once again, the biggest downside is on the boards for the Rock’s players. They are, once again this season, outrageously dominated. They collected only four rebounds to 11 for the Parisians. Fortunately, it has no impact on the scoreboard.
The Roca Team cracks in the final quarter and loses Game 2
AS Monaco Basketball sees Nanterre gradually come back. Point by point, the Parisians equalize in the final moments of the game. They even take the lead (87-90). Struggling physically, the Roca Team cracks and loses Game 2 (89-98). Elie Okobo’s 23 points and eight assists were not enough.
The two teams are now tied in the series (1-1). The semi-finals are completely relaunched. AS Monaco Basketball must respond immediately this Saturday, June 6, at the Maurice Thorez sports palace. In case of defeat, the Roca Team will be forced to pull off an upset.
