Paris Basketball endured a punishing introduction to the EuroLeague on Thursday, suffering a 91-72 defeat against Panathinaikos in Athens. The match marked a steep learning curve for new Paris coach Maxime Lefèvre, who took over the capital club during the offseason following a seven-year stint as an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Greek powerhouse established control early, building a 31-17 lead by the end of the opening quarter. Panathinaikos dominated the boards throughout the contest, outrebounding the visitors 43 to 27, which included 15 offensive rebounds. The defeat leaves Paris searching for answers ahead of their next fixture, while the hosts capitalized on significant contributions from their French contingent.
French Internationals Fuel Panathinaikos Dominance
Panathinaikos leaned heavily on its French internationals to secure the victory. Guerschon Yabusele scored 7 of his 13 total points—adding 5 rebounds—during a third-quarter surge that saw the Greek side pull away to a 69-44 advantage. Sylvain Francisco orchestrated the offense with 18 points and 4 assists, though he committed 4 turnovers, hitting crucial three-pointers whenever Paris attempted a rally.
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Mathias Lessort anchored the effort on both ends of the floor, posting 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 4 turnovers. Lessort sealed the outcome in the 35th minute with consecutive dunks following interceptions, finishing the night with a game-high performance index rating of 28. Panathinaikos played without several key figures, as Kendrick Nunn, Nigel Hayes-Davis, and Kostas Sloukas watched from the stands.
Late Paris Push Falls Short
Despite the deficit, Paris mounted a response at the start of the final period, opening the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run fueled by the scoring of Tyson Etienne, who finished with 17 points. However, the early defensive lapses and sheer volume of second-chance points allowed by the visitors proved insurmountable in front of the Athenian crowd.
Panathinaikos entered the matchup looking to bounce back after watching arch-rival Olympiakos claim the EuroLeague title in May on the very same floor. Under the direction of Zeljko Obradovic, the Greek club preserved its unbeaten home record against Paris.
Looking Ahead to Round 2
Maxime Lefèvre and Paris Basketball will aim to secure their first victory of the continental campaign on Tuesday, when they host Partizan Belgrade for their home opener. Partizan presents a different stylistic challenge for the French club as the EuroLeague regular season continues.
Worth a look
