ASVEL wins the French derby in the EuroLeague after Hifi's mistake

The fourth round of the Euroleague began with a basketball spectacle between Paris and ASVEL, two French rivals that showcased a thrilling derby. The visitors took the victory 98-96 in a match decided in the final moments, thus consolidating their second win of the season with a record of 2-2.

A game of three-pointers and tension

The match was characterized by a constant barrage of three-point shots from both teams. Together, they made a total of 29 three-pointers during the forty minutes of play, turning the derby into a top-level offensive display. Despite this outside shooting, neither team managed to pull away significantly on the scoreboard for most of the game, keeping the uncertainty until the last seconds.

Parity was the dominant theme throughout the game. Both defenses allowed their opponents to find space for long-range shots, resulting in exciting but also unpredictable basketball. This dynamic kept fans in constant suspense, knowing that any possession could change the course of the match.

Mills and Waters guide ASVEL to victory

ASVEL had three key players in its attack to secure the final 98 points. Patty Mills led the visiting team with 21 points, showcasing his experience and ability to score at crucial moments of the game. Tremont Waters contributed 19 points and was decisive in the final moments, while Both Gach completed the offense with 17 points.

Waters played an especially important role in the closing stages of the match. When Paris had opportunities to seal the game, the ASVEL guard managed to keep the visitors' hopes alive with timely scores. His performance in the last minute was crucial for his team to secure the two points at stake.

Hifi shines but can't prevent defeat

For Paris, Nadir Hifi was the game's leading scorer with 30 points, the best mark of his career to date. The Parisian forward had a spectacular offensive performance, taking advantage of the spaces left by the ASVEL defense to score from various areas of the court. However, his offensive merits were not enough for his team to claim victory at home.

In the decisive moments, Hifi committed two crucial errors. First, he lost the ball on a fundamental possession that allowed ASVEL to take the lead on the scoreboard. Later, when ASVEL was ahead by two points with only ten seconds on the clock, Hifi attempted a three-pointer from the corner that missed, sealing the fate of the game. That last-second miss could have meant a tie and possibly overtime, but the ball did not touch the net.

The dramatic conclusion in the last seconds

The last ten seconds of the match were pure tension. Bolomboy made a free throw to give ASVEL a two-point lead, setting the score at 98-96. Paris had one last opportunity to tie or win the game, and Hifi was the one entrusted with executing that final shot. The Parisian forward shot from the perimeter seeking the three-pointer that would have saved his team, but the ball went out.

With that miss, Tony Parker's team could not celebrate victory at home. ASVEL took the two points at stake, consolidating their second win of the season. Paris, for its part, continues with a record of one win and three losses, a mark that reflects the difficulties the Paris team is experiencing in this initial phase of the competition.

Context of the fourth round

This match served as the kickoff for the fourth round of the Euroleague, setting the tone for the rest of the matchups in the round. The French derby demonstrated that in the top European competition, there are no easy opponents, even in matchups between teams from the same country. Defensive intensity, offensive capability, and the importance of details in the final moments were decisive factors in the outcome.

The Euroleague continues to offer matches of great technical quality where details make the difference. In this case, ASVEL's experience in key moments, combined with Paris's mistakes in the final stretch, tilted the balance in favor of the visitors. Both teams demonstrated considerable offensive potential, but only one was able to maintain composure when it mattered most.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ASVEL gana el derbi francés en Euroliga tras fallo de Hifi