Roca Team lost game 3 of the Betclic Élite final on their home court against Paris, 77-88. The Monégasques dug deep physically in the final minutes of this intense match.
AS Monaco Basket is up against the wall! The Rock players faltered in the final quarter and lose this game 3 against Paris Basketball (77-88). Ahead for over 30 minutes, the closing moments of the match proved fatal for the Monégasques.
Roca Team wants to take the lead in this Betclic Élite final. After their success 48 hours earlier at the Adidas Arena, Monaco wants to keep winning. Currently tied at one apiece in the series, the Monégasques can close it out at home, in case of a double victory.
A strong start for Roca Team
Monaco is dominant from the start of the game! Matthew Strazel’s teammates immediately take the lead. The Rock players cause enormous problems for the Parisians. The Île-de-France players are forced into undisciplined play, with no fewer than nine fouls in this first quarter.
AS Monaco Basket is shooting well, with a solid 66%. Once again this season, the Monégasques are struggling on the boards. The Parisians grabbed 14 rebounds against nine for the Roca Boys. Despite this, it is indeed the men from the Principality who are ahead on the scoreboard (26-17).
Roca Team leading at halftime
In line with the opening ten minutes, the battles and pace are intense. AS Monaco Basket pulls ahead with a 12-point lead, at the start of the second quarter (33-21). But, gradually, the Roca Boys see their lead shrink. Elie Okobo’s teammates go into the locker room with a slim four-point lead (44-40).
The Rock players are still struggling on the boards, a problem that has followed them throughout this season. From beyond the arc, the Monégasques are in crisis during this second quarter. They made only one of their seven attempts. On the Paris side, the trend is not much better, with a 3/11.
A closely contested match and a Monégasque defeat to boot
Roca Team cannot find the solution from three-point range. The Monégasques show another 1/7 on this quarter. A shooting slump that could prove costly late in the game. At the same time, Paris Basketball stays in touch. Matthew Strazel’s teammates cannot shake off their opponents. At the end of the third quarter, the match remains completely undecided (61-58).
Still leading so far, AS Monaco Basket falls behind in this fourth quarter (64-66). A situation that the men from the Principality never managed to reverse. The Monégasques ran out of steam physically in these final ten minutes. Late in the game, Matthew Strazel and Alpha Diallo were ejected. The two players were too forceful following a referee’s decision against them.
The Roca Team loses 77-88 on their home court, against Paris Basketball. Lamar Stevens caused significant damage to the Rock’s defense, scoring 24 points. This defeat forces the Monégasques into a must-win situation now, trailing two to one in the series.
Two games and two mandatory victories
After this setback, Roca Team cannot afford any more mistakes in this Betclic Élite final. The first step will be on the Gaston Médecin court, this Sunday at 6 p.m. In case of victory, there will be one last match to win, on Tuesday, June 23 at 9 p.m. Two victories to turn things around and achieve a historic quadruple for Roca Team.
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