Paris buckles in extra time

Published on May 2, 2026

Despite a record Nadir, Paris Basketball lost 103-105 in overtime against Chalon on Saturday night at the end of a hard-fought 28th round.

We were expecting intensity, and we certainly got it! They were running, pressing, attacking… All the frenzy of uptempo basketball immediately took hold of a packed adidas arena. On both sides, the backcourt players didn’t hesitate to spread out without the ball. The moment the ball was in play, the ball handler found himself swarming with full-court press. Worse than chewing gum stuck to the sole of your shoe! However, the points were scored differently. While the ball was brought up the court as fast as ever, Chalon used this combined speed to string together drives, while our Parisians favored the three-pointer. So much so that it wasn’t until the 8th minute that Paris finally sank a three-pointer. Trailing on the scoreboard until the end of the first quarter, our team went from -9 to +3 in just three minutes, thanks in particular to a strong stretch from Captain Seba at the start of the second quarter (27-24). Paris Basketball was back in the lead, but the visitors weren’t giving up! True to their Iisalo style, they launched a flurry of fast breaks. A back-and-forth battle ensued. From long range to close range, including free throws, each team traded blows. Cholet would take the lead, then Paris would reclaim it through Lamar or Nadir, and so on. In the end, it was Chalon who went into halftime with a narrow lead (47-48).

In a tighter start to the second quarter, our players relied on their rebounding prowess combined with superior athleticism to maintain their lead. One thing, however, remained unchanged: the intensity! Speed reigned supreme… as did interceptions. A direct consequence of their ultra-high defensive line, offenses struggled to establish themselves, hence the scarcity of baskets. No problem for our Parisians, whose string of drawn fouls, coupled with well-executed transitions, allowed them to create an initial significant gap. Quite the opposite for Chalon, reduced to a mere 9 players in this third quarter (68-57). But our opponents weren’t about to give up so easily! Having closed the gap to just one possession at the start of the final quarter, Chalon increased the pressure (70-67). Led by our star player Nadir, whose offensive repertoire is as complete as it is varied, Paris Basketball maintains its lead despite the red surge. And even when the visitors finally manage to tie the game, Justin slices through the opposing defense before finishing with a layup (86-83). Neck and neck, Jeremiah Hill sinks a huge shot from the logo with 23 seconds left. A 2-point deficit that Daulton erases at the free-throw line. On to overtime!

Our fans are out in force and they’re making their presence known with a truly electric atmosphere! Chalon strikes first during these five extra minutes. Justin responds with an and-one. Although Allan punishes them in the paint and the Prince of Paris breaks his scoring record for us, an impeccable Matheo Leray from beyond the arc seals the victory (103-105).

In the midst of a roaring adidas Arena, our Parisians gave it their all on the court. A heartfelt effort, unfortunately, not rewarded.

We’re expecting a huge turnout on Saturday, May 16th against ASVEL for our Parisians’ final game of the regular season. Don’t miss out on the last remaining tickets by clicking here.