Nanterre loses to Sabah BC in BCL match

Nanterre lost 87-80 to Sabah BC in Bakou on Tuesday, their second loss in three games in the Basketball Champions League. Coach Julien Mahé used only eight players, despite having Lucas Dussoulier on the game sheet but not in the lineup.

Game flow and scoring trends

Nanterre started strong, leading 13-4 after three minutes, but Sabah BC took control by the end of the first quarter (23-21). The game remained close until halftime, with Sabah BC holding a 39-36 lead and expanding it to 49-40 by halftime.

Second-half comeback attempt

Nanterre tried to make a comeback in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 76-71 with two free throws by Xavier Castaneda. However, Sabah BC responded with a 5-0 run, and despite a late shot by Castaneda, they sealed the win with Frankie Fidler and Gerry Blakes. Sabah BC’s outside shooting was key, making 12 of 21 three-pointers compared to Nanterre’s 10 of 29.

Top performers on both sides

Xavier Castaneda led Nanterre with 23 points and 8 assists, making 4 of 8 three-pointers. Hugo Yimga-Moukouri added 14 points, while Donta Scott and J'Wan Roberts scored 13 and 12 points, respectively. On Sabah BC’s side, Frankie Fidler was the top scorer with 18 points, ahead of Charles Manning Jr (16), Mindaugas Susinskas (12), Evan Bruinsma (11), and Gerry Blakes (10 points, 6 assists).

Nanterre’s early BCL record

Nanterre’s European campaign began with an overtime loss to Trabzonspor (93-83) before a win against Rytas Vilnius (93-65). After three games, they have one win and two losses, matching Sabah BC’s record. Trabzonspor, which remains undefeated in two matches, is set to face Rytas Vilnius on Wednesday.