Paris Basketball secured its first victory of the EuroLeague season on Thursday night, defeating Žalgiris Kaunas 82-78 in a physical encounter at the adidas arena. The match hinged on a tense late-game sequence after a bruising battle in the paint against the Lithuanian champions and their 2.11-meter center, Jonas Valančiūnas.

In this case, Paris head coach Maxime Lefèvre deployed a defensive strategy designed to neutralize the visitor’s primary interior threat right from the opening tip.

Containing Valančiūnas and Controlling the Paint

Right from the start, Žalgiris focused its offense on Jonas Valančiūnas. Paris center Allan Dokossi drew the defensive assignment, using a lower center of gravity and agility to disrupt the former NBA player. The strategy paid immediate dividends on the visitor’s second possession, when Valančiūnas committed a turnover and was subsequently called for an unsportsmanlike foul against Nadir.

By disrupting the visiting team’s primary offensive focal point, Paris effectively choked off the Lithuanian side’s scoring options. The Parisian defense held Žalgiris to minimal points in the opening five minutes, mirroring their defensive intensity from their earlier fixture against Partizan. Although the visitors eventually found their offensive rhythm, Paris struck first through perimeter shooting from Seba and powerful drives from Jared. Despite a brief late-first-quarter surge from Kaunas, the hosts maintained their composure as the scoreboard read 17-19 at the end of the opening period.

A Parisian Second-Quarter Storm

The second quarter belonged entirely to the hosts. Paris unleashed a fast-paced transition attack featuring interceptions, aggressive drives, and high-flying dunks that energized the home supporters at the adidas arena. Joël orchestrated the offense efficiently, distributing precise passes and converting layups. Contributions from TJ, Jeremy, and Allan Dokossi extended the sequence.

While both teams relied more heavily on interior battles than three-point shooting during this stretch, Paris controlled the scoreboard throughout the entirety of the second quarter. Marius Grigonis briefly trimmed the deficit to a single point for Kaunas before Jared and Nadir restored a 41-38 halftime advantage for the French club.

Paris Defense and Daulton Three-Pointer Pressure Žalgiris

Carsen Edwards opened the second half with quick points for the Lithuanian champions, but Paris immediately countered. Discipline from Paris forced visiting fouls, leading to crucial points from the free-throw line via Nadir and Alize. Daulton then drilled a deep three-pointer that forced Žalgiris coach Tomas Masiulis to call a timeout.

The defensive effort extended well beyond the perimeter. Paris consistently clogged the paint against opposing big men while maintaining a strong rebounding presence. Žalgiris failed to cross the 50-point threshold until the 28th minute of the game. Reacting swiftly, TJ scored near the rim to push the lead to 61-53, marking the first significant margin of the evening between the two EuroLeague contenders.

Nadir and Allan Dokossi Seal the Victory

The closing minutes brought a frantic, possession-by-possession battle. Edwards and Valančiūnas combined to draw Žalgiris level before Léo ignited the Parisian crowd with a corner three-pointer. Allan Dokossi followed with a powerful drive, and Nadir capitalized on his speed to pierce the visiting defense in the final minute.

With Žalgiris trailing by a single point in the dying seconds, Carsen Edwards drove toward the basket looking for the go-ahead score, only to be rejected at the rim by Allan Dokossi. The defensive stop preserved the lead, allowing Nadir—playing with the composure of an “Iceman”—to help secure the 82-78 final scoreline and Paris’s first win of the continental campaign.

Next Fixtures in the Continental Calendar

Paris Basketball returns to EuroLeague action next Wednesday, hosting a derby fixture against ASVEL.