Paris (AFP)

Monaco basketball players lost for the third time in a row in the French championship (Elite), cracking Sunday afternoon at home against Bourg-en-Bresse 94-86, and leaving the leading position in Dijon , easy winner of Roanne (96-64).

Zvezdan Mitrovic's players were playing their 11th Elite game on Sunday since May 9, and have yet to play five before the end of their regular season on June 18 against Villeurbanne.

They will then continue with the final phase, with a quarterback at home on June 20 or 21, then a Final 4 in Rouen on June 24 and 26.

The dantesque sequence imposed on the Monegasques - in total, 20 league matches between April 12 and June 18 - begins to be felt on the bodies of Mathias Lessort's teammates.

Sunday, they came back to score in the last five minutes (78-78, 35th) after being led by 16 points (66-50) in the middle of the 3rd quarter.

But the French pivot of JL Bourg Pierre Pelos was untenable, author of a double-double with 31 points and 10 rebounds, well helped by Serbian back Danilo Andjusic (25 points).

The Bressans ended up winning 94 to 86, and present themselves as outsiders for the final phase of the French championship.

With 22 wins in 29 matches, the Roca Team has a 75.9% success ratio, against 77.4% for JDA Dijon and 76.7% for Asvel.

Thanks to its 24th success in 31 matches, Dijon has managed to reverse the negative spiral of two defeats in a row and thus seize the lead of the championship with only three games left to play in the regular season.

For its part, Bourg-en-Bresse continues its good streak after beating Dijon and Strasbourg, and takes the opportunity to put pressure on the Alsatians in the fight for 4th place.

The SIG won 80 to 72 on the floor of the Portel to sign its 20th success in 30 matches played.

Strasbourg is still ahead of Bourg but by nothing (66.7% against 65.6%), with two fewer matches on the clock.

In the fight for the other places in the play-offs, Le Mans and Limoges won respectively against Boulazac (98-83) and against Gravelines (87-77), while Orleans performed the wrong operation by losing 'a point in Châlons-Reims (75-74).

For its part, Nanterre maintains hope with success in Cholet (88-83).

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