The first derby is for Paris. The young club from the capital (born in 2018), yet in bad shape in the standings after a difficult start to the season, paid the scalp of the leader of Betclic Elite, Boulogne-Levallois (83-78). He put the way, collective (25 passes), defensive solidarity (7 counters), and relied on a good address from afar (11/21 at 3 points, 6/7 for the duo Axel Toupane – Gauthier Denis), all while recovering from a difficult start to the game (3-12, 6th) after which he gradually put his hand on the game and never let go, counting up to 11 points. advance (68-57) in a once again raw Carpentier hall.
Four players scored at least 10 points for Paris. One of them was Axel Toupane, who was making his debut for his return to France. If he wanted to (re) get noticed by the coach of the France team, whom he dreams of returning to in the long term, he would not have gone about it any other way. The winger, who started on the bench, was decisive under the eyes of Vincent Collet. His 16 points 6 rebounds, as well as his association with another NBA pedigree player, Kyle O’Quinn, as impactful on Saturday (14 points, 10 rebounds) as he had been sufficient and harmless in Limoges last week (76- 93), allowed his people to make a difference.
The Metropolitans have a third defeat in a row (against Roanne, in the Eurocoupe at Panevezys, then in Paris), a first for them this season, which does not prevent them from remaining at the top of the elite (12-3) with two matches ahead of Monaco (10-5), which lost to Nanterre (83-87), and can be joined on Sunday by Le Mans, if the Sarthe club beats Asvel. Paris Basketball is still trying to extricate itself from the bottom of the rankings and now occupies 14th place tied with Châlons-Reims, miraculous winner in Bourg-en-Bresse (98-97 ap). Next week, Nanterre will in turn be visiting Carpentier.
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