Paris was beaten on Saturday in Bourg-en-Bresse 83-81 during the 16th day of the French basketball championship, and its 2nd place behind Monaco is threatened before the meeting on Sunday between Asvel and Chalon. Dominated at the start of the game, the Bressans then recovered, coming back to 5 points in the 2nd quarter thanks in particular to a successful dunk from Zaccharie Risacher. A gap which narrowed further in the 3rd quarter, Bourg getting back to one point (55-56) thanks to two free throws from E.J. Rowland before Paris regained some air with an extension shot from T.J. Shorts (58-55).
The last quarter saw Bourg en Bresse take the lead with a three-point basket from Bryce Brown (62-60) with eight minutes of play remaining. If Paris then regained the advantage, everything was decided in the money time, the Bressans coming back to one point (80-81) thanks to a new three-point basket from Risacher before another winning shot from Isiaha Mike which gave them the victory. Leader Monaco (14 v. – 1 l.) hosts Roanne on Sunday and could take advantage of the Parisians’ defeat to take off. The latter, JL Bourg and Asvel are all tied behind with 11 v. and 5 d. each.
In the other matches of the day, Cholet ended its black streak of seven consecutive defeats by beating Blois 80 to 78 on Saturday, which also had an equally bad record before this match. Another very close match, the one between Nanterre and Gravelines. Well off to a good start, the BCM gained an advantage of 16 points before being pulled back. The two teams were still tied 64 to 64 less than two minutes from the end, Benjamin Sene giving Nanterre the advantage in money time by scoring a decisive three-point basket to give his team the victory 78 to 75. Boulogne -Levallois lost again in Strasbourg 74 to 61 and remains stuck in last place in the ranking.