The Roca Team survived a scare and then some on the evening of Sunday, December 21, edging Nanterre 105–98 at Gaston Médecin after a marathon two-overtime battle that tested nerves, stamina and every shred of composure the Monegasques had left.
Monaco looked set for a routine victory when they ripped open a 16-point lead early in the second quarter, fuelled by the long-awaited return of star guard Mike James, back in the starting lineup for the first time in nearly a month following suspension. At 37–21, home fans were settling in for an easy night. They were wrong.
The match flipped on its head when Monaco suffered a five-minute scoring blackout, gifting Nanterre a 12-0 run that dragged them right back into the contest. By half-time, the Roca Team’s comfortable cushion had shrunk to a fragile 43–39.
The pattern repeated in a tense second half. Monaco and Nanterre traded blows basket for basket, but the hosts’ inconsistency kept the game wide open. Spanoulis’ squad led 61–58 after the third quarter, yet both teams entered the closing minutes visibly rattled — shooting percentages plunged, tempers flared, and a tactical timeout saw the Monaco coach deliver a few choice words to try to steady his side.
Tied at 74–74 with 20 seconds left, Nanterre had the final possession of regulation but failed to land the knockout punch. Overtime came and went with nothing between the two sides again: 88–88. Only in the second extra period did Monaco finally wrest control, digging deep to close the game out 105–98 and avoid what would have been a bruising upset on home soil.
The win caps a demanding three-game week for the Roca Team, who now face Cholet in Betclic Elite action on Tuesday before turning their attention to a heavyweight EuroLeague clash at home against Real Madrid on Friday, 26 December. Monaco will want to bank the lessons — and the cold towels — from this one.
