In a highly prolific offensive match, the Roca Team overcomes Paris Basketball (109-103) and advances to the French Cup quarter-finals. A game marked by a very offensive first half and a blazing Mike James.
The Roca Team emerged victorious from this French Cup round of 16 clash against Paris Basketball. The Monégasques, led by a tremendous Mike James, were clinical offensively in the first half.
In a Gaston Médecin arena that was not at full capacity, AS Monaco Basket hosted Paris Basketball in the French Cup, following a short six-day international window. Both teams entered the competition at the round of 16 stage. The Monégasques recently secured a victory against Anadolu Efes on their home court. Vassilis Spanoulis’s men are on a streak of three wins in their last four games.
A spectacular night for Mike James
The match starts off offensively. The Roca Team players dominate their opponents that evening. They open the match with a 10-0 run. The Rock Club starts the encounter in the best possible way, forcing the Parisian coach to call his first timeout of the night. The Parisians wake up and fight back. They gradually get back into this quarter.
The Monégasques are led by a fiery Mike James. The American playmaker scores 15 points in the first ten minutes. He demonstrates perfect accuracy with a 5/5 from three-point range. This first act is extremely prolific, with 58 points scored (33-25). The Roca Team is clinical in shooting, with nearly 85% success rate, allowing them to take the lead. The Parisian team struggles more, with only 50% success in this area of the game.
Offense prevails over defense
The offenses are on fire this Tuesday night on the Gaston Médecin court. Continuing from the first quarter, the offenses of both teams overshadow the defenses. Monaco struggles to widen the score gap over Paris Basketball, which is holding on. The Monégasques remain in the lead, as they have since the start of the game. However, they concede this quarter by just one point (32-33).
While the first quarter already seemed prolific, the second is even more so. In total, 65 points are scored in this second act. The Roca Team heads to the locker room leading, with a seven-point advantage (65-58). The Roca Team will need to reduce turnovers when they return from the locker room (ten in this first half).
The Principality’s team is led by two men. The first is Mike James, with his 20 points, two rebounds, and two assists in this first half. The second, is Elie Okobo, who scored 13 points, grabbed two rebounds, and made two assists.
The Roca Team stays ahead despite shooting inaccuracies
The second half is marked by the ejection of Nadir Hifi, following two technical fouls. A missed presence that weighs heavily on Francesco Tabelleni’s team. After a prolific first half in terms of points, the second half does not begin on the same footing. The offenses are more inaccurate, with fewer successful plays. Defenses gradually take precedence over offensive armadas. The match is extremely tight, and its outcome remains uncertain.
AS Monaco Basket experienced their worst shooting quarter, with only 33% success. Opposite them, the Parisian team does barely better (42%) after the absence of their top scorer, Nadir Hifi. The Monégasques are still in the lead (80-74), as the last ten minutes of the game begin.
An uncertain end to the match
Towards the end of the match, the Parisian team, missing their offensive jewel and led by Amath M’Baye. The 35-year-old Frenchman, with 22 points, allows his team to draw level with AS Monaco Basket (95-95) three minutes from the end of this encounter. The outcome of this match is uncertain.
Thanks to better management of the last possessions, the Principality’s players win the match 109-103. They reach the quarter-finals of the competition by eliminating a strong contender for the title. An ideal scenario to kick off December.
It’s a three-match week that the Roca Team has just started. The two teams from tonight will meet again, this time in the EuroLeague. That match will be played on Thursday night, again at the Gaston Médecin court. Vassilis Spanoulis’s men’s week will conclude in Dijon this Saturday, for the tenth day of Betclic Élite.
