Paris Basketball has made a successful entry into the 2025/26 playoffs. The regular season’s top seed asserted their dominance, securing a clear win against SIG Strasbourg, the eighth-placed qualifier who advanced through the play-in games. As has been common this season, Paris relied on their two point guards, Nadir Hifi (24 points) and Justin Robinson (15 points), to establish an early lead (46-39 at halftime). They decisively pulled away in the second half, outscoring Strasbourg 26-11 in a pivotal third quarter.
Despite a strong start from Strasbourg, with Marcus Keene making accurate shots and the team executing collective defense to deny easy baskets, their efforts proved short-lived. Paris quickly responded with fast-break opportunities. A crucial late first-quarter surge, featuring two baskets from Parisian ‘X-factor’ player Jared Rhoden, saw the teams tied at 21 heading into the second quarter.
Paris then intensified their game, drawing fouls from Strasbourg early in the second quarter. Lamar Stevens’ drives into the paint created more open shots against a struggling Strasbourg defense. Nevertheless, SIG managed to stay close at halftime. However, Paris truly unleashed their game after the break.
The third quarter was a one-sided affair. Without needing to execute complex team play, Paris capitalized on numerous fast-break chances. Rhoden, Ouattara, and Morgan with dunks, and Hifi with three-pointers, provided an exciting spectacle at the Adidas Arena, extending their lead to 73-50 by the end of the third quarter.
With the scoreline already too lopsided, SIG, with Mike Davis Jr. as their lone offensive threat (20 points), had no real chance to mount a comeback. This was further compounded by Nadir Hifi, who seemed motivated to prove his scoring prowess beyond his season-best performance, skillfully dissecting the Strasbourg defense in the final quarter.
Paris now leads the series 1-0 and travels to Strasbourg on Thursday aiming to avoid a repeat of last year’s scenario in Dijon, where a grueling Game 3 physically and mentally tested them on their path to a potential back-to-back championship.
