Nadir Hifi is taking Paris by storm

Published on November 11, 2026

Wednesday 11 November, 11.08 pm: the Accor Arena has just witnessed one of the greatest nights in the history of Paris Basketball! With the very last play of overtime, Nadir Hifi handed Fenerbahçe their first ever defeat (111–109).

In the heart of a white-hot arena, the atmosphere of a major occasion hung over the court as the opening tip-off took place. Playing away from home, Fenerbahçe struck first, converting their opening two possessions. Shaken early on, Momo sparked Paris Basketball back to life with a massive block on Wade Baldwin – way out near the perimeter! This defensive stop ignited a lightning-fast 10-0 run, during which TJ Warren showcased his long-range shooting prowess. Throughout this stretch, the Istanbul guards found themselves completely stymied by our perimeter defense. In contrast, our Parisian players excelled in both playmaking and finishing; Allan capitalized on several well-executed plays to hammer the rim. Meanwhile, Frank put his full offensive arsenal on display for the visitors: a clinical mid-range jumper, a shot from the top of the key, and a crossover that nearly sent Dwight Powell to the floor – our French international was truly in the zone! With TJ racking up 10 points in under five minutes, Paris shone and dominated the first quarter (23-14).

The man who once dropped 53 points in an NBA game wasn’t done treating the Accor Arena crowd! Fresh off the short break, he sliced through the defense – clad in white – to attack the basket. Still unable to connect from beyond the arc, the 2025 EuroLeague champions were forced to constantly hunt for points close to the rim. The game saw plenty of isolation plays, but also numerous turnovers, thanks to the hyperactive hands of players like Frank and Nadir. Aside from a brief rally by the visitors – quickly halted by a timeout from Maxime Lefèvre – our squad managed to maintain a comfortable cushion on the scoreboard. It started with five consecutive free throws, followed by a hot streak from Tyson from long range. Meanwhile, Momo continued his dominant work in the paint; between grabbing rebounds and throwing down thunderous dunks, our Senegalese international completely took charge of the Turkish side’s restricted area. In terms of pace, the two teams were worlds apart: while our opponents struggled to outrun us in half-court sets, our players’ speed consistently forced them into committing fouls. It would be hard to ask for a better position heading into halftime (50-43).

Un, Dos, Tres ! Captain Seba kicks off this second act, maintaining the same high standards as the first. Paris Basketball is particularly impressive on the defensive end; the Istanbul side is pushed to the perimeter, running headlong into an airtight first line of defense. Their possessions are marred by turnovers – forced by Paris – and offensive fouls. For our team, the formula remains unchanged: always ready to explode the moment they regain possession, Paris executes its up-tempo style of play to perfection. Natural instinct blends seamlessly with the system implemented by our coaching staff. Fenerbahçe, however, manages to take the lead thanks to a powerful individual effort from Talen Horton-Tucker. Nadir at the free-throw line, Momo under the rim, and Seba with a buzzer-beater level the score, setting the stage for a final sprint (72-72).

It was expected, and it certainly delivered: another wild finish to this matchup. Tyson opens the fourth quarter with a shot from the corner. At the other end, Marcus Bingham rises for a dunk, but Momo responds immediately in the post, followed by a delicate finish from TJ. Our number nine counters with a series of powerful drives to the basket, while Jared joins the fray with his signature mid-range game. This intensity – this “TJ-style” fire – forces the opposition to call a timeout. Every possession feels like it could be the last! In the suffocating final minutes, Jared provides a much-needed breath of fresh air for the Parisians. Following his lead, the entire squad maintains a firm grip on the game, capitalizing on the Turkish side’s lack of discipline to pull ahead by a few possessions. The final minutes feel endless—timeouts, video reviews, and ultimately, the game heads into overtime (92-92).

It’s off again for another five minutes! Paris Basketball are no longer playing in an arena but in the heart of a cauldron that’s constantly boiling over. Once again, Allan and TJ light the fuse. Even when the Istanbul side take the lead, our Parisians fight back through Seba, who scores twice with catch-and-shoot attempts. Sent to the free-throw line, Talen Horton-Tucker is met with a wave of boos from the stands. With the score tied at 2 points, Frank takes the City of Light on his shoulders. Two make-or-break possessions, two long-range attempts, two swishers. But it’s not enough to bring down the visitors (109–109). However, Paris still has one last card to play.

And who else ? Who else but Nadir ? On a final drive contested by a forest of arms, the Prince of Paris sent Bercy into raptures (111–109). A fourth consecutive EuroLeague victory, the curse against Fenerbahçe broken, and arguably the greatest European night in the club’s home history.

Après l’Accor Arena, les soirées d’EuroLeague réalisent leur grand retour à l’adidas arena jeudi prochain. Un choc de haut tableau contre l’Hapoël dont vous pouvez réserver les places en cliquant juste here.

December Madness

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