Euroleague: at the end of the suspense, Tony Parker's Asvel wins in Paris in the first 100% French shock of the season

Asvel advantage! Under the eyes of Teddy Riner, Omar Sy, Tony Estanguet, Gims and other Grand Corps Malade, Lyon-Villeurbanne won against Paris Basketball (96-98) this Wednesday, at the Adidas Arena. First Franco-French shock of the season in the Euroleague, for the fourth day. And first duel of the season between the two biggest budgets in the French championship, the two clubs which dream of being the locomotive of French basketball following the fall of AS Monaco, close to liquidation. The first, but certainly not the last... The Parisians remained on a success in the Euroleague, while the Asvel players were keen to avoid a third setback. 21 points from Australian veteran Patty Mills, 19 from Tremont Waters, 17 from Both Gach and 16 from Hugo Besson on the Asvel side. 30 points for Nadir Hifi, who had the winning basket. 27 for Tys Etienne.

Perfectly launched by Hifi, author of 7 of his team's first 9 points, Paris was in the lead (9-4, then 15-6), before the winning baskets from Waters and Mills, and the trickster lay-up from Lighty (15-14). But with 9 ball losses in this first quarter, Asvel was scuttled (21-14 at the end of QT1, then 23-14). Fortunately, there was Mills (25-19), but Hifi continued its festival and Lyon-Villeurbanne, losing balls (29-19). If the visitors avoided sinking, it was only thanks to their individualities, and the three points (31-30, then 34-30). But Asvel gradually put its game in place, and finally stopped losing balls (36-36). Reversed dynamic, Asvel taking the reins thanks to a vintage Mills, before a Hifi technique, annoyed 0”3 from the buzzer (42-45, then 43-46 MT).

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16 points for Hifi at the break, 13 to the credit of Mills. Quite a duel. And it started off strong again, with for example the interception and the basket filled with Hifi and the four-point action from Besson, which caused Herrera's fourth foul (51-52). Hifi's third was quick to fall (51-55). Without the Prince of Paris, recalled to the bench, coach Lefèvre's players still found solutions and the two teams exchanged baskets, Gach having the hot hand, and Etienne, very hot (68-67, then 71-67). A festival! The two teams put on quite a show at Porte de la Chapelle, with Ayayi's triple at the buzzer of this superb third quarter (77-74 at the end of QT3).

Spectacular and indecisive, the 100% French shock kept its promises. Big sequence of collective play from Asvel, Faye's tap, Waters who was heating up... We remained in the same slot at the start of the last quarter. Obviously, Hifi was there, boiling, from afar or in penetration (89-85). What a treat, this alley-oop from Crowder for Mills! With five minutes to play, the two teams were in any case still in a tight spot (95-95). Suspense in Paris.