Partizan Belgrade defeats Paris Basketball 92-79 in EuroLeague

Partizan Belgrade Capitalizes on Paris Turnovers

The visiting Serbian side capitalized heavily on Paris’s miscues, converting the home team’s 20 turnovers into easy transition points and open floor looks. Nadir Hifi committed seven of those turnovers while facing intense defensive pressure, as Partizan deployed Alessandro Pajola and Luca Vildoza to trap the guard. Carlik Jones led the victors with 20 points, earning the MVP of the match for executing a strict anti-Hifi game plan. Vildoza added 16 points, frequently intercepting passes to spark fast breaks, while Tonye Jekiri anchored the paint with 15 points and 7 rebonds off the bench. Despite an aggressive perimeter approach that saw Paris launch 30 three-pointers—hitting 37 percent—the offense stalled significantly compared to last season’s standards. Jared Rhoden contributed 12 points and TJ Warren added 14, but the second unit failed to sustain the bright start provided by a 10-0 opening run. Kyle Allman Jr. and Lamar Stevens also fueled Partizan’s scoring surges, culminating in a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Arijan Lakić to end the first half at 44-40.

Max Lefèvre Evaluates Defensive Shortcomings

Max Lefèvre pointed directly to execution and ball distribution as the primary culprits behind the double-digit loss. We lacked organization in the second half, we stopped passing the ball around. Lefèvre stated via EuroLeague TV, noting that turnovers directly fueled Partizan’s transition game. We need to take better care of the ball; the turnovers hurt us. They gave them layups and open shots on the fast break. the coach added. Lefèvre also expressed severe dissatisfaction with his team’s defensive intensity, noting that conceding 92 points at home breaks a long-standing scoring floor for the club. 92 points is too many. We won’t win many games conceding that many points. he said. Paris previously relied on high-scoring performances exceeding 90 or 100 points, making this 79-point output their lowest home total since February across all competitions.

Quick Turnaround Against Zalgiris Kaunas

Paris Basketball has minimal time to reset following the 92-79 setback, as the team returns to the Adidas Arena to face Zalgiris Kaunas. Partizan Belgrade advances to a strong 2-0 start following victories over Olimpia Milano and Paris, while the French capital side aims to secure its breakthrough win against the visiting Lithuanian collective.