Paris (AFP)
Monaco was difficult to win against Orleans 92 to 80, late Saturday afternoon at home on behalf of the 27th day of the French basketball championship, and consolidates its place at the top of the Elite.
Qualified on Wednesday for the semi-finals of the Eurocup (2nd European level behind the Euroleague), the Roca Team signed their 12th victory of the season in 14 matches played.
Zvezdan Mitrovic's players, who followed the end of the third and fourth quarters from the stands, have the best record in the French league (86%), ahead of Dijon (13 wins in 17 matches, 76%).
Mathias Lessort's teammates quickly created a gap, with a lead of 22 points (47-25, 27th), at the end of the 2nd quarter, but saw the Orléanais pick up the score, thanks to a huge third quarter- time (32-16).
More present in the rebounds, the Monegasques intercepted many Orleans balls in the last ten minutes to offer a less stressful end of the game.
Monaco will now turn to its Eurocup semi-final, with the reception of the Spaniards of Gran Canaria on Tuesday evening (7 p.m.), then a trip to the Canaries three days later for match 2, before a possible match 3 in the Principality. April 14.
In the other Elite meetings, Boulogne-Levallois continued to lose ground on the first places, losing to Gravelines 72 to 61. This is the 7th defeat (for 10 victories) of the Metropolitans 92, who remain in 6th place in the ranking (59%)
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