After three matches postponed due to Covid, in its ranks or among its opponents, Asvel had found some vital forces and returned to play in the Euroleague, Friday evening, on the floor of CSKA Moscow. And during a bitter and disputed fight until the last minutes, thanks in particular to the contribution of Marcos Knight (16 points, 7 rebounds), Elie Okobo (15 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists) and James Gist (14 points , 8 rebounds), the champion of France has done better than any other French team in the Russian capital for the past two decades, from where everyone had returned with a mark on the cheek.
Le show Hackett
Villeurbanne resisted, came back from hell several times, relying on a good state of mind and great defensive solidarity, which had allowed him to still be ahead in the score at the very end of the third quarter (61-59 ), on a basket more fault of his captain Charles Kahudi (7 points). But the collective, weighed down by a few errors and stray bullets at the start of money-time, immediately sanctioned by the Russian host (28 points conceded in the last quarter), ended up giving in (83-90).
TJ Parker: “We had our chance”
Irresistible throughout the game, author of 10 of his 27 points (9/12 shooting, 3/4 from 3 points) in the last period, CSKA Moscow full-back Daniel Hackett tortured the Villeurbannaise defense, and carried the thrust on a drive followed by two free throws, to bring the gap to twelve lengths (80-68, 36th). The Italian international finished with 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 8 fouls and 38 ratings.
“We had our chance, satisfied TJ Parker, the coach of Asvel, afterwards. But it was a difficult match, in a room where it is very difficult to win. We fought, they took big shots and we conceded too many points at the end, where we are punished for each gap. They are great players in front… Dshame, because we have been in the game for a long time. Our situation remains complicated, between the Covid and our long-term injuries, David Lighty for three months, or even Raymar Morgan, who was to start and has not played a match with us this season…”
Moscow (12 wins -7 losses) steals 6th place from Kazan. Asvel (9th, 8-10) remains in ambush in the fight for the play-offs, behind Efes Istanbul (8th, 9-10) before the successive and crucial receptions of Monaco (January 18), Red Star Belgrade (January 21) and Bayern Munich (January 25).
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