After an opening game loss on Tuesday (89-90), Paris found themselves on the ropes for Game 2 of the Betclic Élite semi-finals against Cholet on Thursday. Under pressure, the Parisian team started sluggishly, falling behind by as much as 10 points (20-30) by the end of the first quarter. However, they found their rhythm in the second half, ultimately overpowering the visitors to secure a convincing victory (100-77).
Nadir Hifi, who had a statistically productive but inefficient Game 1, bounced back strongly. Playing with more composure, the French guard finished with 19 points and was instrumental in Paris’s comeback. He was well-supported by Daulton Hommes, who continued his excellent form with 15 points. For Cholet, their collective effort, which started strong, eventually faltered. Gérald Ayayi led his team in scoring with 17 points.
Can Cholet Maintain Momentum?
Cholet began the game with high intensity, starting with a powerful alley-oop from Jamuni McNeace, followed by a successful “and-one” play from the big man moments later (2-7, 2nd minute). The tone was set, and Paris was forced to match the visitors’ energy. By the time Paris caught up, Cholet had already established a lead, built on their well-oiled team play, highlighted by Nathan De Sousa’s 8 early points, which they maintained through the first quarter (20-30, 10th minute).
The second quarter saw a shift in momentum, initiated by a somewhat fortunate basket attributed to Lamar Stevens (22-30, 11th minute), providing a much-needed boost for the home team. By tightening their defense and finding offensive success, Julius Thomas’s squad went on an 11-0 run, taking their first lead of the game with a three-pointer from Léo Cavalière, his second of the playoffs (31-30, 13th minute).
This surge didn’t deter Cholet. After a timeout called by Fabrice Lefrançois, the team regrouped. Chibuzo Agbo was particularly impactful, scoring 11 points by halftime and executing a crucial four-point play that silenced the arena (33-39, 15th minute). While Jared Rhoden (9 points at halftime) fought to keep his team competitive, Paris made costly errors.
Following an earlier long-range score by Ayayi, Paris committed their ninth turnover of the night, and the Cholet guard capitalized again (43-50, 19th minute). After the break, Cholet extended their lead. Mohamed Diarra, who had been quiet, scored the first 5 points of the third quarter. In what seemed like an instant, the underdogs were back up by 10 points (45-55, 22nd minute).
Hifi and Hommes Prove Decisive Again
Daulton Hommes, who was already brilliant in the series opener with 22 points (his highest total in Paris), had attempted to bring his team back before halftime (45-50, 20th minute), but without immediate success. However, his momentum carried into the second half. The American guard scored 9 points in the third quarter, reigniting the capital’s club and electrifying the Porte de la Chapelle district with a powerful transition dunk (67-64, 27th minute).
Nadir Hifi tried to douse the flames with a smooth three-pointer from 45 degrees (5-9, 3rd minute). However, his aggressive style sometimes led to defensive lapses. On the very next play, he was beaten by De Sousa, who also completed a 2+1 play (5-12, 4th minute). Frustration was evident for the Parisian player, which persisted through the first quarter, where he scored no further field goals.
But Hifi learned to manage difficult moments throughout the season. He and his team had faced many such challenges, and the French international was determined to change their fate. Shooting more selectively than two days prior, the “Prince of Paris” scored 10 points and effectively distributed the ball when needed, giving his team their largest lead of the night so far (72-68, 28th minute).
Finally, Paris seemed to control the game’s tempo. This was confirmed when, despite an offensive foul and a technical foul against them, the capital’s players avoided falling back into old habits. Instead, they delivered a commanding defensive stop, after which Lamar Stevens extended the lead as the third-quarter buzzer sounded (77-68, 30th minute).
To avoid a late scare, the home team relied on their other NBAer. After Stevens at the end of the third, Rhoden launched the final quarter with two successful three-pointers (83-70, 33rd minute). Paris extended this advantage and maintained it until the final buzzer. The crucial Game 3 will take place on Sunday at La Meilleraie.
The game’s boxscore can be found here.
At the adidas arena, Paris
