A resounding victory against Žalgiris

Published on October 1, 2026

What a mad night at the adidas Arena! After a dramatic finish courtesy of Nadir, Paris Basketball secured their first EuroLeague win of the season on Thursday evening against Žalgiris Kaunas (82–78).

A massive physical battle was promised, and that’s exactly what we got! Right from the start, Žalgiris Kaunas put their game plan into action. Every offensive play revolved around Jonas Valančiūnas—a 2.11-meter giant whom Allan was tasked with containing. Though shorter in stature, our center used his lower center of gravity and agility to constantly disrupt the big man. And it paid off! On just his second possession, the former NBA player committed a turnover before conceding an unsportsmanlike foul against Nadir. Once that cornerstone was rattled, the entire “Green” structure suffered. Much like our opening against Partizan, Paris Basketball virtually shut down the opposition’s scoring from open play during the first five minutes. Although the visiting machine eventually found its rhythm on offense, our Parisians were firing back at the other end. Whether scoring from deep through Seba or using raw power with Jared, Paris took the initiative! And even when the Lithuanians pushed back at the end of the first quarter, the black-and-blue ship held firm (17-19). That brief lull gave way to a Parisian storm. We saw it all: steals, transition plays, drives to the basket, and – of course – an incredible dunk to top it off. Our fans knew exactly what to do: it was time to rally behind the team! Joël took charge at the point, serving up a mix of exquisite assists and layups. TJ, Jeremy, and Allan also added their own finishing touches to this superb run. While there were very few three-pointers from either side, a fierce battle under the rim defined the game – a contest in which our squad held the lead throughout the entire second quarter. Kaunas looked poised to pull off the same kind of move they had made earlier in the game, as Marius Grigonis narrowed the gap to just a single point. However, this time Jared and then Nadir stepped up to ensure they held onto the lead (41-38).

The game remains a scrappy affair, though Carsen Edwards scores the first points of the second half. A momentary setback only sets the stage for a strong response! That is the fate Paris has in store for the Lithuanian champions. It begins at the free-throw line, where Nadir and Alize capitalize on the visitors’ lack of discipline. Daulton then forces yet another timeout from Tomas Masiulis with a devastating three-pointer. But the game is being won – for our players – by what happens off the ball. Beyond completely shutting down Kaunas from beyond the arc, Paris Basketball is dominating the paint. A wall of hands awaits the opposing big men on every foray, not to mention a constant presence on the boards. It takes 28 minutes of play for Žalgiris to finally cross the 50-point mark. In response, Maxime Lefèvre’s squad wastes no time making them pay. TJ takes charge of this task, using his superb touch near the rim. For the first time in the game, our Parisians open up a significant gap (61-53). The contrast between these two EuroLeague heavyweights is striking: fluid, instinctive, and fast-paced play from Paris Basketball versus half-court post play from Žalgiris Kaunas. Ultimately, our team maintains a two-thirds advantage in possession as the game enters crunch time. Now neck and neck, every basket counts double! Our opponents strike first through their Edwards-Valančiūnas duo. With the team struggling, Léo sparks a rally from the corner, Allan follows up with a powerful move, and Nadir turns the Adidas Arena into a volcano!

It’s time for the final sprint! Coming out of a time-out, the Prince of Paris uses all his speed to break through that green wall. Carsen Edwards then looks set to bring his side within a single point of our Parisians, but he hits a brick wall. His name ? ALLAN DOKOSSI! With a rock-solid defence, the teammates of Nadir – in ‘Iceman’ mode – clinch this long-awaited victory (82–78).

EuroLeague nights make their grand return next Wednesday for the derby against ASVEL. An unmissable clash – you can snap up the last remaining tickets by clicking right here !

ASVEL

Take your seats !