The visitors trailed by 12 in the third quarter before roaring back.
Besiktas slows down Paris, 63-68, hands Group A leader first loss
Game Report
3 Mins read
Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul showed its class in the BKT EuroCup by slowing down Paris Basketball 63-68 on the road to hand the French side its first loss in the competition. Besiktas came back from 12 points down and used its stellar defense to hold Paris to just 23 second-half points to improve to 6-2. Matt Mitchell led the way with 16 points and Yigit Arslan had 15 points. Paris dropped to 7-1 and tasted defeat for the first time despite TJ Shorts scoring 22 points and Nadir Hifi picking up 19 points.
Besiktas needed more than 2 minutes to finally score but gave up only 2 points to the hosts. It was still only 4-3 after 4 minutes as neither side could really find any offensive rhythm. Leyton Hammonds’s second score put Besiktas ahead 4-7 as Paris was held scoreless for more than 2 minutes, and the score went to 5-9. Five quick points from Hifi put Paris back ahead and started a run of four lead changes. Sebastian Herrera had a three-point play in building an 18-13 cushion. It was 20-15 after 10 minutes.
Hifi helps Paris build a promising lead
Leon Kratzer hit a hook shot and the advantage grew to 23-15. Derek Needham responded with back-to-back triples to bring the guests within 25-21 but the Besiktas veteran point guard was called for his third foul. Shorts punched back with free throws and a three-pointer as Paris went up 30-21. Besiktas temporarily shut down Paris with 4 straight points over nearly 3 minutes to trim the gap. Hifi answered with 2 three-pointers and Paris took its first double-digit lead at 38-27. Paris went into the locker room ahead 40-31.
Game Videos
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/31ce77cd-3f54-487a-a938-3513960940d1.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/4fce2d56-fa4e-4e21-876b-c675925f27d0.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A157%3A62]()
Shorts forces overtime! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:33
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/b18bc3bd-dab5-4bb2-9696-7d24cd1561d7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A244%3A108]()
Hayes on the highlight reel! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/50OofhUsjZM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Paris Basketball | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e3ac1d81-9b2c-4cf1-92eb-cda4426cb059.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Paris Basketball | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/455dd022-21a7-4abc-bc7d-8b37f55a9a40.jpg?crop=706%3A397%3Anowe%3A592%3A146]()
Hifi’s solo supremacy! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/5b81a6dd-d0d5-4182-b903-5281a9570bdf.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A122%3A69]()
Shorts & Hayes combine for alley-oop slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cf3121f9-bc69-42bd-97e6-d298c52f5b53.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A94%3A61]()
Ward throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/15/8dlgRLKcMbtZcmTtjyHVXJSqaAG1s4c8-1744753885265.jpg]()
Shorts, Hayes combine in crunch time! | Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 01:06
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/15/DompPFYdSS4e13Cwm9MOqVziBuRMOpLf-1744752846941.jpg]()
TJ Shorts: 'It's an amazing feeling right now'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/UWFX2gZZjxM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Paris Basketball | Play-In Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/f15be203-413f-45ce-bbfd-eb81acf0b01b.jpg?crop=974%3A548%3Anowe%3A252%3A0]()
Hifi with another crazy three! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5ee8efe7-32f2-43ea-a49f-f0ccd40d77f7.jpg?crop=841%3A473%3Anowe%3A151%3A0]()
Hayes alley-oop dunk off another Shorts assist! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/5b81a6dd-d0d5-4182-b903-5281a9570bdf.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A128%3A56]()
The Shorts-Hayes combo works again! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:57
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/10/A2MTpWwlZVj8ddfDnQCIwaJmUjsiQXOG-1744320519295.jpg]()
Tyson Ward: 'This is a product of us having fun'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/f3fc9523-1cbc-4fb4-a640-875cc2154dfb.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/96115336-839e-4057-bd83-5b13036c68a7.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Paris Basketball | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/848bf0eb-f634-416b-9d86-c9dab468d332.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Paris Basketball | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4bfd91d5-95ed-4224-a206-dc827574521a.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Paris Basketball| RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8f95371d-fa62-47bc-8fec-72d9d0747eee.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A75%3A95]()
Hifi stuns the crowd! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:34
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/18/WoEqhAZMFOSknSGvCIGpglW6ZH9X1Ou4-1742335612387.jpg]()
TJ Shorts: 'We will carry this momentum for the rest of the season'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0b920160-ae17-44ad-9c9a-eba7a0a20425.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5f588c6d-cb8b-4b08-8e35-6c371bcfeecf.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A153%3A59]()
Shorts with a rare block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/922b2794-1041-4bff-8841-2cd476b1e523.jpg?crop=1913%3A1076%3Anowe%3A475%3A563]()
Mathis Dossou-Yovo opens his EuroLeague account in style! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/005ea570-3a38-4dbf-8483-c9324e93d388.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Paris Basketball | RS Round 29 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f4def6af-0796-45bd-9e49-5ba5ca05724e.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-AS Monaco | RS Round 28 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/65290f13-574b-4d2f-a94d-85e9810e1bda.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Besiktas Fibabank Istabul | Eighthfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a78b4bef-79cc-4c50-b89a-02227b042660.jpg?crop=1278%3A719%3Anowe%3A36%3A35]()
Plavsic at it again! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7ad38cdb-398b-4160-a9c2-d90fb6d805f0.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A136%3A6]()
Plavsic violates the rim! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9e711822-cc46-4732-867e-4ad0c6a9ed87.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A110%3A25]()
What a dunk from Sleva! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2af757b7-c254-4be2-b35a-66df03863302.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A77%3A27]()
Allman gets airborne! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3491d84f-a9a0-475a-89d5-b89f85cdaeab.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A116%3A62]()
Plavsic with a superb dunk! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/db5758e0-0bb6-40c8-b577-022bcd59a77c.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:14
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/27/ZQUKEXZjujBNl2jaw8Ae3exHnv8d5ZLq-1740695013995.jpg]()
Maodo Lo: 'This win was huge for us'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f753452d-a6b4-44b2-905f-0abf02049488.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 27 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:14
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/07/uPaE0OWO82QEBUA8cJDasu9KiHGhqTRu-1738972344095.jpg]()
Nadir Hifi: 'I'm trying to be one of the best players in Europe'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4d33aa1f-3790-4906-a883-660feaeec2d7.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Paris Basketball | RS Round 26 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e53061af-afcf-4c51-89a0-eb71b8b6f907.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 25 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/74becc14-5278-458b-b9ec-b23679c05107.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A151%3A36]()
Hayes skies for the slam! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/zNU9guWExW4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabank Istanbul-Dolomiti Energia Trento | Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2af757b7-c254-4be2-b35a-66df03863302.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A68%3A26]()
Allman dunks on the fly! Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ef2e2512-09d3-41b8-ad92-3748438545b4.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A81%3A33]()
Terry bends the rim! Magic Moment
- 01:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/30/Qv16yPK2nLcP36dAWljNvW5GikgHCiXT-1738274243654.jpg]()
TJ Shorts: 'We found the way to get the win'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/kdKyJM0U31M/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Paris Basketball - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 24 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/792c7725-bc50-433d-b859-3a20b4ccb96b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A119%3A37]()
Paris Basketball at its best! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/1VxUBOeMcM0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Dreamland Gran Canaria-Besiktas Fibabank Istanbul | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6de22b18-14b3-4efc-8686-5e288393a8c1.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A179%3A113]()
Needham finds Plavsic on his back! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3f736973-4994-47c0-9797-858f6e0a2b0c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A38%3A9]()
Round 24 video preview: Everything you need to know about this week's key games
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3c4618fa-f871-4d4a-ba3b-e52580a496f6.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Paris Basketball | RS Round 23 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/aXny-NciO2M/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabank Istanbul-Trefl Sopot | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
Arslan leads Besiktas comeback
Shorts extended the lead to 12 points - 44-32 - early in the third quarter. The home side has been known all season for its offense but Paris limited Besiktas to just 3 points in the first 6 minutes of the second half and led 46-35. Besiktas refused to go away with Arslan hitting 2 three-pointers and Mitchell making 6 free throws in a 2-12 run over the final 6:23 minutes of the third quarter to pull within 48-47.
Visitors take control late
Mitchell started the fourth quarter with a three-point play to put Besiktas back ahead 48-50. Shorts stepped up for Paris with an and-one of his own and the hosts led 53-52. Arslan answered with a runner and three-pointer and Besiktas went up 53-59. Bandja Sy knocked down a triple and Paris was within 58-59 only to have Needham bury another triple and Angel Delgado made it 58-64. Hifi and Collin Malcolm scored as Paris trimmed it to a 1-point game. Arslan continued his outstanding second half with 2 free throws as Besiktas held a 63-66 advantage. Tyson Ward missed a three-pointer with 45 seconds remaining and Mitchell drained 2 more foul shots for a 63-68 Besiktas cushion with 24 seconds to go to ice the game.
