Paris wins the first round

Published on June 14, 2026

This is ridiculous! Carried away by a furious adidas arena from the first to the last minute, Paris Basketball wins game 1 of the Betclic ELITE Finals after a battle from start to finish against Monaco (95-91) !

The Finals are underway! And as has been the case so often this season, Paris opens the scoring through Justin. Our American class then ensures we’re off to a good start. However, a series of three-pointers from Jaron Blossomgame allows Monaco to take a narrow lead. The electric atmosphere of the playoffs spills from the stands onto the court. Every player rises to the occasion from the outset, and it shows. Suffocating perimeter defenses, palpable tension, trench warfare under the basket, constant running… But above all, big three-pointers sinking from anywhere. This opening is characterized by its choppy nature, typical of top-level matchups. Our Parisians can’t establish their blistering pace, unlike the clinical Monaco players in the half-court thanks to well-executed screens. The first quarter belongs to the Roca Team (22-28). After halftime, the game begins to unfold. Fewer timeouts, more action! Julius Thomas’s team deployed their up-tempo philosophy with short offensive plays, though they lacked long-range shooting. This deficiency resulted in a mini-run for the Reds. Okobo’s teammates advanced, widened the gap, until they hit a wall. The DC wall! Once again, Daulton decided to dominate a portion of the game. This time, the hammer fell with 5 minutes left in the half. Our power forward opened the floodgates, unleashing Enzo’s and-ones and Nadir’s sharp drives. Back within one possession, our Parisians owed their deficit only to several free throws in favor of Monaco. But shortly before the end of the first quarter, the game exploded! Two consecutive three-pointers from the parking lot by Amath tied the game. Finally, in a raucous adidas Arena, only a single point separated us from the Principality (51-52).

All this, with only 20 minutes having passed! Things aren’t getting any better because, barely back on the court, Paris Basketball seizes the lead after a huge battle for the boards, sealed by Justin. For the first time since the start of the first quarter, we’re back in front! Far from being defeated, the Monegasques immediately respond, shifting into high gear in transition and with their cuts. Our Parisians, meanwhile, capitalize on the opponent’s indiscipline, drawing nearly eight consecutive free throws. After losing ground, Paris maintains a comfortable gap before surging forward again. Monaco’s shooting accuracy dips, our team regains its form, and without flinching, we’re back in the game. However, at the end of the third quarter, Élie Okobo puts the Principality on his back to secure a comfortable lead (67-76). The tension doesn’t let up one bit! Shoulders out, contact in the paint, and especially fouls punctuate this final stretch. Bogged down in the penalty in barely 2 minutes and 30 seconds, the Roca Team finds no other solution to stop the Lamar-Nadir duo than to send them to the free-throw line. The latter don’t hesitate to take advantage! Meanwhile, the visitors initially struggle to punish the Lamar-Nadir duo. While their momentum is slowly returning, our defense forces them to spread out on every incursion. The Prince of Paris doesn’t encounter any of these difficulties, as evidenced by the absolutely sensational step-back jumper from 0° over Blossomgame. Then, with yet another Daulton bomb going off with 3 minutes left, the adidas Arena erupts. Paris is back in the game (88-87)! Momo follows up by posterizing our former center Kevarrius Hayes. Our opponents resort to extremely complex shots, for lack of anything better.

Monaco has one last chance (92-91). Strazzel takes the ball, drives, and gets stopped by a defensive tackle! It’s over, Paris has done it (95-91)!