FC Barcelona returned to Paris on Tuesday and secured a commanding 85–69 victory over Paris Basketball at Adidas Arena. Xavi Pascual, coaching in the French capital more than 15 years after leading Barca to a EuroLeague title here, saw his team dominate from start to finish despite missing key playmakers and big men.
Will Clyburn led the charge with 19 points, 13 of them coming in the first quarter, shooting efficiently to establish an early lead. Dario Brizuela provided an instant spark off the bench, scoring nine points without missing a shot in the opening minutes.
Barcelona outrebounded Paris 40–34 and forced 13 turnovers while limiting the hosts to just 12 assists, reflecting a complete defensive effort. Kevin Punter finished as the team’s top scorer with 21 points, while Willy Hernangomez contributed 13 points and six rebounds in limited minutes due to foul trouble.
Joel Parra added 11 points and seven rebounds in over 30 minutes, helping Barcelona maintain control in the frontcourt. The team’s ball movement was strong, with 18 assists highlighting the collaborative approach that Pascual emphasized in the postgame analysis.
Barcelona’s depth allowed them to absorb the absence of Jan Vesely and Toko Shengelia while maintaining a high tempo on both ends of the floor.
Paris Basketball’s top performers kept the hosts in contention early. Jared Rhoden scored 15 points, Allan Dokossi added 14, and Nadir Hifi contributed 16 points, but their efforts could not match Barcelona’s balanced attack. Paris also struggled to capitalize on opportunities, finishing with 13 assists and 34% shooting from three-point range.
The night also marked a milestone as 16-year-old Nikola Kusturica made his EuroLeague debut, becoming the youngest player in club history to appear at this level, matching the age Luka Doncic had when he debuted for Real Madrid.
The victory extends Barcelona’s winning streak to four games, boosting their record to 11-5. Pascual’s team now shifts focus to hosting Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on Friday, while Paris Basketball (5-11) faces a challenging matchup against Real Madrid in Round 16 on Thursday.
