Hapoel Tel Aviv prevails despite strong performance in EuroLeague clash vs Paris Basketball

Paris Basketball experienced another setback in their EuroLeague campaign, falling 93-82 to Hapoel Tel Aviv in a postponed Round 21 fixture played in Sofia. Despite controlling large portions of the game, the Parisians couldn’t capitalize on their earlier momentum and missed a valuable chance to climb the standings.

A fast-paced start favors Paris

The contest began at breakneck speed, with Paris Basketball immediately taking control through aggressive defense. Led by an omnipresent Jared, the team forced multiple turnovers in the opening possessions, disrupting Hapoel‘s typically controlled half-court offense. While long-range shots from the Israeli side prevented Paris from building a commanding lead, the French club’s run-and-gun approach proved devastating.

JMO’s hot shooting combined with abundant free throws allowed Paris to challenge EuroLeague‘s third-best defense. Nadir orchestrated the offense brilliantly, mixing intelligent distribution with unstoppable individual plays, while Allan dominated inside with rebounds and sharp cuts. Though Hapoel managed to contain this frantic pace better in the second quarter, implementing their own up-tempo game through the Bryant–Blakeney duo, Paris maintained a slim 53-52 halftime advantage.

Defensive intensity shifts momentum

The second half transformed into a more defensive battle, with contested shots becoming increasingly difficult. Physical play replaced the earlier offensive fireworks as Hapoel took their first lead following a 3-pointer from former Paris player Collin Malcolm. Despite Paris relying on strong interior work from their big men to generate crucial second-chance points, Hapoel’s perimeter movement proved more effective during this challenging period.

איש מרחף 🪽 pic.twitter.com/DASLpwKtXt

— Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) March 17, 2026

The damage remained limited, with only two possessions separating the teams at 75-69. Paris dramatically closed the gap to just two points within 20 seconds through long-range shots from Justin and Jared, making it 77-75. However, Hapoel’s experience showed as they regained control. Several Paris turnovers prevented them from completing their comeback attempt, and despite a strong collective effort approaching crunch time, the visitors sealed victory with a crucial late-possession shot, finishing 93-82.

Missed opportunity for playoff push

Paris Basketball (12 wins, 20 losses) squandered an excellent opportunity to build on their recent 90-81 victory over Asvel and move closer to 15th place in the standings. The defeat was particularly frustrating given they trailed by only two points entering the final quarter.

The team returns home to host Partizan Belgrade on Thursday, March 19th at the adidas arena, before facing a crucial late-March stretch featuring matchups against Virtus Bologna on March 31st and Milan on April 2nd, 2026.