Paris Basketball claimed sole possession of first place in the Betclic ÉLITE standings on November 1, 2026, after surviving a 116-112 overtime thriller against Élan Chalon at the Adidas Arena. Guard Frank Ntilikina scored 15 points in 17 minutes as a starter, marking his first productive outing for the club after missing nearly a month of action in October.
Paris survives Chalon surge in overtime
Élan Chalon pushed the league leaders to the limit behind a career-high 34 or 36 points from Jeremiah Hill, who shot 14-of-24 from the field. The visiting side established an early advantage through a fast transition pace and efficient shooting, holding a 26-21 lead at the end of the opening quarter. Chalon maintained pressure for much of the contest before Paris rallied behind Jeremy Morgan, who finished with 16 points.
Paris reste parfait 😤116-112 après prolongation face à Chalon/Saône. Hifi (27 pts) et Ayayi (16 pts, 9 reb, 9 pd) font la différence, malgré les 36 pts de Jeremiah Hill 🔥6/6, seul en tête 👑#BetclicÉLITE #Basketball pic.twitter.com/oMjcLUNnDc
Ntilikina breaks through after quiet start
Frank Ntilikina stepped into the starting lineup and delivered his first impactful performance in a Paris jersey after combining for just four points on 1-of-13 shooting across his first four appearances. The former New York Knicks guard missed most of October due to injury before returning to the rotation earlier in the week against Maccabi. Ça fait plaisir,
Ntilikina told DAZN regarding his return to the floor. C’est mon premier bon match avec l’équipe. Je tiens à remercier le coaching staff et mes coéquipiers car j’ai eu beaucoup d’aide. Paris a un style de jeu atypique. C’est le challenge que je voulais.
Late-game collapses and extra periods
Paris built a 102-91 cushion by the 35th minute, fueled by Joël Ayayi’s steady playmaking. However, Chalon mounted a 10-0 run in the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime. In the extra five-minute session, Nadir Hifi—who scored 27 points—alongside Mouhamed Faye secured the four-point victory.
Standings impact and upcoming schedule
The hard-fought win lifts Paris Basketball to the top of the Betclic ÉLITE table as the division’s last remaining undefeated team, capitalising on unexpected losses by Dijon and Villeurbanne. Ntilikina emphasized the value of the result amid ongoing roster injuries and a demanding fixture list. On a été allé la chercher,
Ntilikina told DAZN. On a joué face à une belle équipe de Chalon, qui est en forme, qui a fait des bons résultats. Ils ont joué leur jeu avec agressivité en première mi-temps mais on a su rectifier le tir ensuite. Avec nos blessures et le calendrier, c’était super important pour nous d’aller chercher cette victoire.
