By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Missing the opportunity to reduce the deficit from the top of the standings, Metropolitans 92 fell to AS Monaco, 87-68, Sunday.
Visiting Salle Gaston Medecin, Victor Wembanyama did not check out until late in the third quarter and after starring in the best play of the game, arguably of the season as well.
The young upstart, heading to the top pick of the 2023 NBA draft, combined reach with basketball IQ to pull down the rebound from his own missed three-pointer for an incredible putback dunk disregarding everybody else on the floor.
Wembanyama, 19, was held to eight points and 3/9 field goals with his double-digit scoring streak through France’s Betclic Elite LNB Pro A Regular Season coming to an end in Round 27. But logged 14 rebounds, three blocks, and three assists in a 35-minute effort. Tremont Waters pouring a season-high 31 points was not enough to prevent the drop to 18-9 for the team coached by Vincent Collet, sitting second on the standings.
Overcoming an early double-digit deficit and trailing for most of the first half, league-leading Monaco dominated after the break and confidently went up to 21-5. Elie Okobo dropped 21 points and four assists. Young French guard Matthew Strazel added 16 points. Chima Moneke, Jaron Blossomgame, and Alpha Diallo all sat out for La Roca Team.
On the top half of Sunday’s schedule, Nando De Colo tallied 19 points for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in the win, 96-78, versus Roanne in Astroballe. David Lighty finished with 11 points and eight assists for the team coached by T.J. Parker. Amine Noua (right shoulder) and Joffrey Lauvergne (right knee) both remained on the injury list.
Pro A Round 27
ESSM Le Portel – Paris 84-71
Fos-sur-mer – BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque 63-69
Limoges CSP – Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez 81-89
Le Mans – JDA Dijon 96-81
Cholet – Nanterre 92 80-86
SIG Strasbourg – ADA Blois 85-95
SLUC Nancy – JL Bourg 82-96
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne – Roanne 96-78
AS Monaco – Metropolitans 92 87-68
STANDINGS: Monaco 21-5, Metropolitans 92 18-9, ASVEL 16-9, Cholet 16-10, Dijon 16-10…
Photo Credit: Getty Images