Nadir Hifi delivered 28 points and nine assists as Paris Basketball beat Anadolu Efes 95-90 in Istanbul on Thursday, November 5, earning its third consecutive EuroLeague road victory.
Hifi finished with a game-high 39 PIR, adding six rebounds while shooting 6-of-9 on two-pointers, 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and a perfect 7-of-7 at the free-throw line. He also played through an ankle problem.
Paris needed Hifi’s production to withstand an Anadolu Efes offense led by Cam Payne, who scored 33 points and made seven three-pointers. Collin Malcolm added 20 points, while Bruno Fernando recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Efes started strongly, with Payne scoring eight of the hosts’ first 17 points. Paris responded with a 17-1 run, using its bench production and Jared Rhoden’s contributions to take control.
The visitors went into halftime leading 42-36 after Hifi converted a buzzer-beating jumper. He had already recorded 10 points, six assists and five rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.
Efes fought back in the third quarter, outscoring Paris 34-24 to take an 80-78 lead into the final period. Payne helped fuel an 11-2 run as the hosts found their rhythm from three-point range.
Paris responded in the fourth, scoring 29 points to secure the win. Payne’s seventh three-pointer cut the deficit to 91-90 with 25 seconds remaining, but Efes could not score again.
Hifi then made all four of his free throws to close out the victory. TJ Warren contributed 13 points, while Rhoden added 14 for Paris, which improved to 4-6 in the EuroLeague.
The result also extended Paris’ winning streak on the road to three games. Hifi said the team had responded to its difficult start by continuing to work and building confidence through consecutive victories.
Paris hosts Fenerbahce on Wednesday, November 11, while Anadolu Efes, now 4-6, welcomes Virtus Bologna on Friday, November 13.
