LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne claimed a second straight home statement over Paris Basketball, pulling off a 94-89 victory on Tuesday night at LDLC Arena in Round 19 of the EuroLeague.
The matchup carried extra weight after last season’s dramatic meeting, and once again, the home side found answers when the game tightened late.
Paris started with confidence and efficiency, scoring 23 points in both the first and second quarters to take a 46-41 halftime lead on the road.
Nadir Hifi set the tone early for the visitors, attacking off the dribble and finishing the night with a game-high 26 points, including timely perimeter shots that kept Paris in control for long stretches.
Support came from several sources, as Sebastian Herrera added 11 points while Derek Willis chipped in 10 off the bench to stabilize the offense when rotations shifted.
ASVEL stayed within reach through rebounding and second-chance points, keeping the contest close despite shooting inconsistencies in the opening half.
The hosts finally broke through in the fourth quarter, where execution and physicality flipped the momentum inside a packed arena.
With the score tied at 74-74, veteran guard Nando De Colo changed the game’s direction in a decisive two-minute stretch.
De Colo grabbed an offensive rebound, received the ball back from Thomas Heurtel, and drilled a deep catch-and-shoot three to put ASVEL ahead.
Paris responded through Nadir Hifi, who tied the game at 77-77, but the visitors could not slow De Colo’s shot-making.
The 38-year-old followed with another three over center Momo Faye, then added a third long-range make after Shaquille Harrison’s reverse layup to extend the margin.
When Paris sent extra defenders, De Colo calmly found Glynn Watson for a corner three that made it 88-81 with 36.4 seconds remaining.
That sequence effectively sealed ASVEL’s sixth win of the season and its fifth home victory in the last six games.
De Colo finished with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, and a PIR of 24 in just 21 minutes, while Watson delivered a career-high 28 points to lead all scorers.
ASVEL’s control on the glass proved decisive, as it outrebounded Paris 50-38 and collected a club-record 23 offensive rebounds.
Those 50 total rebounds matched the franchise’s EuroLeague high, last achieved in October 2021 against CSKA Moscow.
Paris showed resilience behind Hifi’s 26 points but struggled to close defensive possessions, allowing ASVEL repeated extra chances late.
The result left both teams level at 6-13, though the win boosted confidence for Pierric Poupet’s group ahead of a favorable home-heavy stretch.
ASVEL hosts Real Madrid next Tuesday, while Paris Basketball heads to Istanbul to face Anadolu Efes, still searching for road consistency.
