Nantes saw off Rouen Métropole Basket 83:78 in a Pro-B fixture on Thursday evening. The French second-tier game finished with a five-point margin, and the home side took all three points from the contest. It was a close affair from start to finish, with neither team able to pull clear for long stretches.
Both clubs sat near the foot of the table at the time of kick-off, 16th and 17th respectively, each with three games played and two defeats already on the ledger. To be fair, that context made every basket matter more than it might have in a different part of the standings. The result keeps both sides in the bottom half, though the gap at the top of the table is where the real story lies.
We had called for a home win before the game, with 57 per cent confidence in the prediction. And here's the thing — it was a narrow call, but Nantes showed enough composure in the closing stages to see it through. The visitors came back at them, but the home side held their structure when it counted.
By then, the table picture had shifted slightly. Nantes remain 16th with one win from three games, while Rouen drop further behind at 17th, also on one victory. Neither side has accumulated points yet in the standings, but the gap between them is now widening after this result.
Recent form tells a mixed story for both. Nantes have lost four of their last five outings, including a 73:90 defeat to Poitiers on Tuesday. Rouen, meanwhile, had won their last game 85:78 against Ada Blois, but that victory came after three straight losses. This match was another chapter in a difficult season for both clubs.
