Chalon/Saône opened their Ligue Nationale de Basket Pro A campaign with a hard-fought 82-74 home victory over Limoges, grinding out a result that was built on defensive discipline, efficient half-court execution and a decisive third-quarter surge inside a loud and partisan arena.

The eight-point margin flatters neither side's effort. For long stretches this was a scrappy, physical contest between two clubs with proud championship histories, decided in the details: rebounding position, transition discipline and who could stay composed when the tempo slowed and every possession mattered.

Match Overview

• Competition: Ligue Nationale de Basket Pro A
• Fixture: Chalon/Saône vs Limoges
• Final Score: Chalon/Saône 82 – 74 Limoges
• Date: 27 September 2026
• Result: Home win for Chalon/Saône

Chalon controlled the game without ever fully breaking it open. Limoges stayed within striking distance deep into the fourth quarter, but the hosts' ability to generate a quality shot whenever the lead dipped below double figures proved the difference between a win and a nervous finish.

How the Game Unfolded

The opening period set the tone. Chalon came out with purpose at both ends, pushing the ball in transition and attacking the rim early, while Limoges looked content to work the clock and probe the hosts' half-court defence. A 22-17 first-quarter edge reflected Chalon's sharper start and their willingness to share the ball — the extra pass arriving more often than not.

Limoges responded in the second. Their guards began finding seams in the Chalon defence, drawing fouls and converting at the line, while a pair of timely three-pointers kept the visitors in touch. The quarter finished 20-19 in Limoges' favour, trimming the deficit to 41-37 at the interval and sending the teams to the locker room with the game still very much in the balance.

The third quarter decided it. Chalon opened the second half with a 21-18 stretch that turned a four-point cushion into a nine-point advantage, capped by a run of stops that forced Limoges into contested, late-shot-clock attempts. From 62-55 heading into the final period, the hosts had both the lead and the momentum.

Limoges kept competing. They cut the gap to five on more than one occasion in the fourth and briefly threatened to make it a one-possession game, but Chalon answered every push with a basket of their own, closing out the quarter 20-19 and the match 82-74.

Key Moments

• First-quarter burst: Chalon's early transition scoring established a lead they would never surrender.
• Late second-quarter threes: Limoges' shooting kept the half-time deficit manageable at four points.
• Third-quarter defensive run: A series of forced turnovers and contested misses allowed Chalon to build their first real cushion.
• Fourth-quarter composure: Each time Limoges closed within five, Chalon found a response through the half-court offence.

Tactical Story

Two contrasting philosophies shaped the night. Limoges favoured a patient, possession-heavy approach, leaning on ball screens and interior movement to manufacture looks inside. Chalon preferred pace — pushing after defensive rebounds and looking to score before the visitors' defence could set.

The decisive adjustment came on the glass and at the point of attack. Chalon's ability to limit second-chance opportunities forced Limoges to score against a set defence, and in the third quarter that proved a difficult assignment. On the other end, Chalon's spacing stretched the Limoges help defence just enough to create driving lanes and open corner looks.

Free-throw shooting and turnover differential also tilted the contest. Chalon converted their opportunities at the line in the closing minutes, while Limoges' handful of empty possessions in the third quarter were the ones they would most want back.

Standout Performers

Chalon's backcourt controlled the rhythm of the game, dictating tempo in transition and settling the offence when Limoges threatened a run. Their frontcourt work on the boards underpinned the win, securing the defensive rebounds that fuelled the fast break and drawing fouls on the interior.

For Limoges, the scoring load was spread across the rotation, with the guards providing the bulk of the fourth-quarter resistance. Their effort on the defensive end kept the game within reach into the final minutes, but a shortage of easy baskets in the paint left them chasing rather than leading.

Season Impact and What Comes Next

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