Paris to the power of three

First play, first defensive stop, first block – courtesy of Momo. First foray by Nadir, first basket, first “and-one.” It’s hard to imagine a start to a game more “Paris Basketball-style”! Especially when Seba puts on a clinic in long-range “run-and-gun” basketball just minutes into the game. Our Parisians come out firing – but Anadolu fires right back. Initially, free throws dictate the flow of the game. Then, thanks to players like Tyson Etienne and Cameron Payne, the three-point shot takes center stage, followed by a flurry of aggressive drives to the rim. Keeping pace with the hosts on the scoreboard, our second unit – bolstered by Jared’s contributions in both scoring and rebounding – closes the gap to within a single possession. This momentum culminates in a clinical catch-and-shoot bucket by Jeremy to end the first quarter (23-26). It was the prelude to an impressive surge! Paris quickly takes the lead, fueled by another “and-one” – this time from TJ. This sudden shift in tempo is driven by a level of Parisian aggression that far outstrips that of the Istanbul side. While our defense locks things down, our offensive threats pierce the blue armor time and again. Whether through crisp ball movement or well-timed cuts into the paint, Léo’s teammates consistently create high-quality scoring opportunities. It’s a stark contrast to Efes, who repeatedly commit offensive fouls, leading to a significant dry spell for them whenever they have the ball. Only Cameron Payne manages to break the spell, hitting shots of extraordinary difficulty. While their backcourt tries to respond, the interior belongs to us—our big men are truly dictating the terms of the game. From forced turnovers to steals by Maozinha, the intensity on display is reflected on the scoreboard. It’s only in the final moments that our opponents manage to surpass 10 points for the second quarter! To cap it all off, Nadir drains a sublime mid-range jump shot at the buzzer (42-36).