Euroleague: Partizan Spoils Paris Basketball's Home Debut

Paris Basketball remains winless in Euroleague after a home defeat to Partizan Belgrade. The team, coached by Maxime Lefèvre, lost following a promising start.

Paris opened with a 10-0 run, with T.J. Warren, Mouhamed Faye, and teammates appearing dominant. However, the momentum shifted when Paris’s second unit entered the game. Former player Kyle Allman Jr. helped Partizan close the gap to three points by the end of the first quarter (18-15).

Carlik Jones Shines as MVP Candidate

Carlik Jones, who was MVP in the first Euroleague round, proved his worth again. The Belgrade point guard was instrumental, contributing 11 points and 3 assists in the first half, finishing with 20 points overall. Despite Jones's performance, Paris held the lead for much of the second quarter, with Jared Rhoden scoring effectively (making a three-pointer at the 13th minute for a 26-17 lead).

Paris gradually lost control of the game. Former Paris player Lamar Stevens narrowed the score during a Partizan surge (28-24, 14th minute). Partizan maintained their advantage for most of the remainder of the match, highlighted by Nikola Tanasković's long-range shot at the first-half buzzer (40-44), much to the delight of the numerous Serbian fans present.

Tonye Jekiri Dominates, Paris Guards Overwhelmed

Coming off the bench as backup to Kevarius Hayes at center, Tonye Jekiri injected significant energy in the second half. He finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds, leading Partizan's charge in the third quarter with 9 points. Paris, however, stayed competitive, with captain Herrera scoring twice to keep them close to Partizan (57-59, 27th minute; 63-67, 30th minute). The score remained close heading into the final quarter.

A potential Paris comeback seemed possible after T.J. Warren drove to the basket against a crowded Partizan defense (65-73, 32nd minute). However, Warren and Nadir Hifi (19 points) on the perimeter found themselves too isolated to overcome the deficit. Experienced player Luca Vildoza (16 points), who consistently stole the ball and scored on fast breaks, took charge for Belgrade. His three-point play with a foul (73-87) three minutes from the end dashed Paris Basketball's hopes of a comeback. Paris must quickly regroup as they face the strong Zalgiris Kaunas collective on Thursday.

The game's box score is available.

At the adidas arena, Paris