Paris Basketball secured their first win of the season, defeating Zalgiris Kaunas 82-78 at the Adidas Arena in EuroLeague Matchday 3. Just like in the preseason, Nadir Hifi proved decisive down the stretch.
Paris Takes Control
Zalgiris started strong, closing the first quarter ahead (17-19). From there, the game shifted. The Parisians won the second quarter (24-19) to go into halftime 41-38 and continued their momentum in the third, reaching their largest lead at 56-48 and closing the quarter up eight (61-53).
Tied at 69, Then Hifi Takes Over
Zalgiris refused to go away. They tightened the screws in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 69, forcing Paris to earn the win again. Hifi answered the call, appearing once more to stretch the lead to 81-78. On the other end, Carsen Edwards missed on possessions that could have changed everything, and Paris closed out 82-78 without further drama.
It was, in fact, the best quarter Zalgiris played (21-25), but it came too late.
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Hifi and Warren Lead Balanced Attack
Hifi finished with 21 points and was the offensive engine for the home side. T.J. Warren contributed 14, Jared Rhoden 9, and Leopold Cavalier and Allan Dokossi each added 8. A balanced scoring effort that allowed Paris to sustain their offense without relying solely on their point guard.
For Zalgiris, Edwards led the way with 19 points and Ąžuolas Tubelis posted 18 points and seven rebounds. Sterling Brown added 13. Jonas Valanciunas, returning to competition, finished with six rebounds.
A Matchup with Recent History
This matchup came with recent precedent: Paris had already beaten Zalgiris 83-82 in the semifinal of the London Lions Invitational preseason tournament, also with Hifi deciding in the final minute. Additionally, two former Paris players now play for Kaunas—Maodo Lô and Dustin Sleva.
The French side arrived battered after falling at home on Tuesday against Partizan (79-92) in their home opener. Zalgiris, meanwhile, continues without Nigel Williams-Goss, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first matchday.