Paris Basketball secured a 98-84 victory over the SIG Strasbourg at the adidas Arena in Paris, building a commanding first-half lead before holding off a second-half rally to claim their first home win of the Betclic Élite season.
Fast-Break Offense Overwhelms Strasbourg Defense
Paris took control of the contest during a dominant second quarter where the capital club erupted for 32 points, establishing a 61-38 advantage by halftime. Jared Rhoden set the tone early by scoring the game’s first seven points, finishing as part of a balanced offensive attack that featured four players scoring in double figures.
SIG Strasbourg head coach Janis Gailitis pointed to the game’s tempo as the primary factor in his team’s unraveling during that decisive stretch. “Paris plays with passion, and when you don’t put yourself at their level on speed, you look like a passenger. You are quickly left behind,” Gailitis said.
🔥 | Faire la difference ! Hifi et Maozinho enchainent avec efficacite ! 🎯🎯
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Tactical Double-Teams Fail to Stop Paris Backcourt
While the defensive strategy limited Hifi to five points in the first half, it ultimately backfired as Paris capitalized on open floor spacing. Paris head coach Maxime Lefèvre noted that Hifi handled the defensive attention maturely by moving the ball instead of forcing difficult shots, helping the hosts rack up 21 assists before the break.
“They did double-teams all game on Nadir,” Lefèvre explained. “From the beginning, it was clear that the opponent coach’s game plan was not to let him play. I think he played a very good match anyway. When they came at him, the ball moved. That’s why we had 21 assists in the first half.”
🚀 | Deux missiles déployés et @ParisBasketball ré-accentue l’écart ! ⏳
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Strasbourg Charge Falls Short After Halftime Lull
Holding a 24-point cushion at intermission, Paris experienced a dip in intensity that allowed Strasbourg back into the game. The visitors mounted an 8-0 run late in the third quarter, capitalizing on defensive lapses from the reigning Betclic Élite runners-up to cut into the deficit. Ben Gregg led the Strasbourg fightback with 20 points, while teammate Maxence Lemoine added 16 points.
Lefèvre admitted disappointment with his squad’s defensive posture in the second half. “When you’re up 24 at halftime, it’s human to let up,” Lefèvre said. “But you have to succeed in beating that feeling and continue to work, to push, to do the things that brought us here.”
Balanced Scoring Secures the Win for Paris
Despite the second-half stumble, Paris maintained a double-digit cushion down the stretch, preventing Strasbourg from completing a full comeback. Tyson Etienne paced the victors with 17 points, Léopold Cavalière contributed 15 points, and TJ Warren added steady production with 10 points by halftime. The win keeps Paris near the top of the Betclic Élite standings alongside the JDA Dijon, who defeated Limoges 108-96 behind 28 points from 40-year-old guard David Holston.
Paris now turns its attention to continental competition ahead of a demanding Euroleague double-week schedule. Lefèvre emphasized that the team must immediately refocus for an upcoming home fixture against Virtus Bologna on Wednesday at the adidas Arena.
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