Kuta's double-double powers Orléans past Reims
Nathan Kuta steered Orléans to a vital 77-67 road victory over Châlons-Reims, securing fourth place in the regular season standings for his side.
In a late-season contest with clear playoff seeding implications, Orléans established control, overcoming a modest 24% three-point shooting performance.
The visitors established an early lead, building a ten-point advantage by halftime (38-48) and extending it to twelve entering the final period (52-64). Their superior field goal efficiency (49% to Reims' 40%) and a significant edge in steals (13 to 4) proved decisive, even as Châlons-Reims capitalised on perfect free-throw shooting (13/14) and received 27 points from its bench.
Despite Laolu Oke's 12 rebounds and 11 points from both Dimitri Radnic and Guillaume Grotzinger, Châlons-Reims could not mount a comeback. Kuta was the primary catalyst for Orléans, recording a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, complemented by Lorenzo Thirouard-Samson's 14 points. The win solidifies Orléans' top-four position, leaving Châlons-Reims in tenth place.