The hosts decided the game with a monster third quarter
Paris's defense solved run-and-gun game
Article
3 Mins read
Paris Basketball took a 1-0 lead in its best-of-three BKT EuroCup semifinals series by downing the London Lions 99-86 at home. In a high-scoring showdown, Paris's third-quarter difference was critical in this game.
After a fun-to-watch first half, Paris had a slim lead at the break due to its better rhythm. The hosts made 19 of 28 two-pointers (67.9% 2FG) and forced London into 12 first-half turnovers. Still, the Lions managed to rally from a double-digit deficit to get within 52-48 near halftime.
T.J. Shorts made a jumper to fix the halftime score at 54-49. It was the start of a game-breaking 14-0 run that bridged the halves. Shorts scored 9 of those 14 points and fed Mikael Jantunen for a three. All of a sudden, Paris had a 66-49 margin and was well on its way to winning the game.
"Certainly, the way we started that quarter and built a big lead was the key to this game," head coach Tuomas Iisalo said after the game. "It generally helps to score 12 points with the opponent not being able to answer," he joked.
Paris kept going, limiting London to just 8 third-quarter points. The visitors only made 2 of 8 two-pointers (25%) and missed all of 7 shots from beyond the arc while committed 3 more turnovers. Moreover, Paris outrebounded London 17-7 in the third quarter.
Even though London kept fighting, mainly through an outstanding David Nwaba, Paris kept a safe margin from that moment until the final buzzer.
"We just stuck to our identity, playing with speed, forcing tough shots, getting out and doing the things that got us here in the first place," Shorts said about his team's fantastic start of the third quarter. "I think that is what we did to start that second half and it separated the lead a little bit. And then from there, you are feeling more confident and were able to close the game."
Paris ended up outrebounding London 40-26, including 14 of those on the offensive end. London finished the game with 19 turnovers and made 4 of 19 three-pointers. Despite a slow start to the game, Shorts had an all-around performance that cemented his MVP candidacy: 23 points on 9 of 11 two-point shooting, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals.
London will host Game 2 on Friday.
Game Videos
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Thunder dunk by Kevarrius Hayes! Motorola Magic Moment
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Paris Basketball-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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TJ Shorts: 'We're taking it game by game'
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Shorts breaks Poirier's ankle! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
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Malcolm throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
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FC Barcelona-Paris Basketball | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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TJ Shorts: 'It was my whole team stepping up'
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Paris Basketball-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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TJ Shorts: 'This was an all-around team effort'
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Paris Basketball-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Tiago Splitter: 'We just kept fighting'
- 00:59
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Mikael Jantunen: 'This was the most physical battle we've had so far'
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TJ Shorts | RS Round 5 MVP | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Tiago Splitter: 'TJ Shorts was a monster'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Yl3bm2anffE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
AS Monaco-Paris Basketball | RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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TJ Shorts: 'Monaco vs. Paris is going to be a true rivalry'
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FC Bayern Munich-Paris Basketball | RS Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Sy's huge dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
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Paris Basketball-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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TJ Shorts: 'It's been a great day'
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4dc81ed6-42e7-429b-a06e-4d976d640f48.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A152%3A154]()
Malcolm’s steal and slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 03:46
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Shorts to Hayes for the big slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 04:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ef0b413b-05a4-443f-8609-d16c7e4df62d.jpg]()
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TJ SHORTS | Finals MVP | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c1152142-90ca-4b57-8803-621d4950db63.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A270%3A112]()
Magic Moment: Shorts to Kratzer alley-oop!
- 03:45
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/04/12/6PB7eiiO7dOluznt5nhPfiSkEvHL3tM7-1712952065955.jpg]()
Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse-Paris Basketball | Finals Game 2 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 03:36
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/04/09/5fAiwflOoamhHQO9FxWTAoSX4YDaVTTj-1712696388703.jpg]()
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- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/88b0b228-b788-442f-8ecf-c60e60d46db5.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
Magic Moment: Ngouama to Simon!
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e37b5383-daa5-4151-8a65-4c3cf112e572.jpg?crop=1238%3A696%3Anowe%3A18%3A44]()
Magic Moment: Simon's fastbreak dunk!
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3061c539-bc6b-4e6e-8ae0-745ce899718a.jpg?crop=1293%3A727%3Anowe%3A30%3A114]()
Magic Moment: Kratzer's alley-oop dunk!
- 01:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/04/09/FWHlZEPJXFRDLr914VHwFcIXpo9a03as-1712652442200.jpg]()
Tyson Ward, Paris: ‘It would be crazy, surreal’
- 01:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/04/09/uh3O05p5pNv81MCKzxg90qaEyHGY0fch-1712650833608.jpg]()
TJ Shorts, Paris: ‘Hopefully we can do something special’
- 00:53
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/04/04/rYyAtaNbgjIeWXexII2Ap4h1ckm79LpD-1712212729406.jpg]()
TJ Shorts | Semifinals MVP | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 03:50
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/29/sayVeCUcIEwv1pr6YtSXwZccpvpRxscp-1711749890370.jpg]()
London Lions-Paris Basketball | Semifinals Game 2 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/29/dx2Hgz6boA7FxQ04YH2mRwNwOvcXGffW-1711748573929.jpg]()
Magic Moment of the Night: What a monstrous dunk by Ward!
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/abb2946e-0fb2-4401-a9e1-d8af35f0f6f7.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A170]()
Magic Moment: Connor Morgan with a huge dunk
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f079861a-3bf1-42a6-b48e-044672a5ba77.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A91%3A50]()
Magic Moment: Dekker with a two-handed slam-dunk
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/db200755-83d3-4901-bd7c-d432102ff6ef.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A231%3A164]()
Magic Moment: What a monstrous dunk by Ward!
- 03:47
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/26/Mo7x8AJyNYEQPCM3xEN48TwubPhVcTLG-1711490637726.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-London Lions | Semifinals Game 1 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/26/5qj89pER49cak48tBK2DLfKl3cw2eeAT-1711489881598.jpg]()
Magic Moment of the Night: Nwaba steal and dunk!
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d28d80a6-e8a7-40fb-91ac-a07cc60a0595.jpg?crop=1320%3A743%3Anowe%3A6%3A107]()
Magic Moment: Grantham throws it down!
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0e820ed7-5bb3-42e9-be3c-e6e69437a547.jpg?crop=768%3A432%3Anowe%3A51%3A27]()
Magic Moment: Kratzer's alley-oop slam!
