London leaned on experience to get past Paris
The London Lions travelled to the French capital without star players Sam Dekker and Kosta Koufos, yet its trio of 33-year-old veterans – Jordan Taylor, Vojtech Hruban and Tomislav Zubcic – stepped up against Paris Basketball to lead the English team to an 85-96 victory.
As a result of this win, London ended its debut season in the 7DAYS EuroCup with an 8-10 record from its 18 regular-season games, and it also exacted a bit of revenge against Paris after losing 80-93 at Copper Box Arena just before the new year. Paris, meanwhile, concluded the regular season with a 10-8 record.
Neither London nor Paris could move from their current positions of seventh and fifth, respectively, in the standings, yet this game was a good opportunity to see where the two teams stood ahead of the postseason. After all, London was coming off back-to-back home defeats and Paris had lost two of its last three fixtures.
In the early going, Taylor got London moving as he scored 11 of the team's first 15 points in the first quarter. Then, as the game developed, Hruban and Zubcic began to put their fingerprints on the contest. At halftime, for example, with Paris and London tied at 49-49, the trio of Taylor (11), Hruban (10) and Zubcic (8) had combined to score 29 points for the visitors. Combined, they had dished 9 of London's 14 first-half assists, too.
After the break, Zubcic began to take over. In the third quarter alone, he doubled his first-half scoring output and took his tally to 16 points. Taylor and Hruban only added 2 points apiece in that quarter, but the former dished another 3 assists to move to 7 assists in the game. Then, in the final quarter, Zubcic scored another 8 points, including a three-pointer at the buzzer to put the cherry on top of an 11-point win.
Zubcic finished with 24 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, while Taylor had 13 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal and Hruban amassed 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. London may have been without Dekker and Koufos in Paris, but Zubcic, Taylor and Hruban showed their experience with three solid displays, which is a good sign ahead of the playoffs.
Game Videos
- 00:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/03/j9M1GcQg8xUvfIHllgg60ZQBSpTRFKpn-1733265844292.jpg]()
TJ Shorts: 'We found our energy'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2770484b-7a2a-40f7-9d12-e7bf0689d4fb.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Paris Basketball | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/721a96c8-b75b-47fb-ae1e-bbac8270816a.jpg?crop=1171%3A658%3Anowe%3A155%3A74]()
Thunder dunk by Kevarrius Hayes! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/yHrZdwal5gM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
TJ Shorts, November MVP: 'I feel like I belong'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/rqHknWewwgU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:17
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/21/FSuCilTUcB2xdhYs9boyfyk5ZbMsrN5x-1732221727185.jpg]()
TJ Shorts: 'We're taking it game by game'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/682d4129-3f07-4c67-a998-91e30a90a6b0.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Paris Basketball | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2190ac6b-32d7-46c9-a202-41ec7f6e3216.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A190%3A94]()
Shorts breaks Poirier's ankle! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/792c7725-bc50-433d-b859-3a20b4ccb96b.jpg?crop=1214%3A683%3Anowe%3A45%3A33]()
Malcolm throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/PjpIeli7J0k/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Paris Basketball | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:56
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/15/PVm49BOVnU72TwN6NdV9bb9dVHZGdaky-1731708203592.jpg]()
TJ Shorts: 'It was my whole team stepping up'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/86b0777d-c4eb-47a5-8f92-55f2634799e5.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:18
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/13/6tyXqOgvW8toa1uWPc63YSzHDsGAesGY-1731535111272.jpg]()
TJ Shorts: 'This was an all-around team effort'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y6MhglxthpI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:49
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/07/um6QkIp0Xa60CRKnQ6pWsr5wz32bslV1-1731017848593.jpg]()
Tiago Splitter: 'We just kept fighting'
- 00:59
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/01/wRc5ZkYbwdCKq9rmuUeXd48FHV4QSzD2-1730498030922.jpg]()
Mikael Jantunen: 'This was the most physical battle we've had so far'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b1e3930a-5498-4a09-8246-59932dd74673.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5a3fea11-d35d-4452-9c45-bcc6dbf0fbba.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Paris Basketball | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/eacbc26e-7c30-4c68-9ab8-5d753112a10c.jpg]()
TJ Shorts | RS Round 5 MVP | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:34
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/24/x792eLZ4PakTlCyLl1EWuJdydDa5f0EY-1729801852560.jpg]()
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
- 01:58
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a56915b1-ff36-4c3f-84ad-d12c9a6d9a53.jpg?crop=1213%3A682%3Anowe%3A16%3A126]()
TJ Shorts: 'Monaco vs. Paris is going to be a true rivalry'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/juqkMUTFrtE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Paris Basketball | RS Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:36
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/17/VYOptcaeD3AjXF5PzikMbfgUCzPH9HDi-1729199322994.png]()
Sy's huge dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/xGkJFwBb2P0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:09
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/15/uCGe5ySgDdf9hq25A9eozaAJeGNeQXxn-1729029297972.jpg]()
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
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/11/HAMOF5uBjwCuKwvwnxH7uRSyo9bLbOmq-1728681341189.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Paris Basketball | RS Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/39f53613-42e0-409a-b8bf-dc7ff7efb844.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A268%3A0]()
Shorts to Hayes for the big slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 04:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ef0b413b-05a4-443f-8609-d16c7e4df62d.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade| RS Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:01
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/04/12/WS98UlvVbm3cP1oVjzli60lg7snN0SjJ-1712957932367.jpg]()
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]()
Paris Basketball-Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse | Finals Game 1 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 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!
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3061c539-bc6b-4e6e-8ae0-745ce899718a.jpg?crop=1344%3A756%3Anowe%3A6%3A132]()
Magic Moment: Kratzer's put-back slam!
