ASVEL 92-105 Valencia: a 55-31 second half buries an 18-point lead in Lyon

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An 18-point lead, 23 minutes and 32 seconds spent in front — and LDLC ASVEL still walked off their own LDLC Arena floor beaten by 13. Valencia Basket won the second half 55-31 and flew out of Lyon with a 92-105 win that looked nothing like the first 20 minutes.

ASVEL took the opening quarter 33-21, their best run worth eight straight points, and still led at the break after Valencia edged the second 29-28. Then the game flipped: 26-16 in the third, 29-15 in the fourth, six lead changes and an 11-point Valencia burst as the hinge. The visitors never needed more than the 13 that became the final margin.

The last few minutes told the story. Kameron Taylor's three made it 89-98, TJ Shorts pushed it to 90-100, Nikola Mirotić to 90-102. Patty Mills answered at 92-102, Shorts added a free throw for 92-103, and Taylor's final two points closed the book at 92-105.

Mirotić top-scored with 22 points on 67% shooting in under 18 minutes. Shorts added 17 points and 6 assists, Taylor 14, Nate Reuvers 13 — four Valencia scorers in double figures against an ASVEL side whose best was Jae Crowder's 10 points and 7 rebounds, with Tremont Waters chipping in 9 points and 5 assists. The glass did the quiet damage, 44-33 to the visitors, second chances tipping the balance.

More time in front, more assists at 23-21, a 6-3 edge in blocks and fewer turnovers, 11 to 14 — ASVEL collected every consolation number except the one that pays. Valencia took the game over in 20 minutes and left the rest as decoration.