Paris vs Olympiacos Prediction: The Euroleague’s Top Scorer Hosts the Competition’s Third-Best Team

Two teams at opposite ends of the Euroleague table meet at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena on Tuesday in a match that means everything to Olympiacos and almost nothing to Paris – except the chance for Nadir Hifi to add another chapter to the most extraordinary individual season in French basketball history.

Paris Basketball (16th, 12-18) are still technically alive in the play-in race – though their path is narrow. Their second Euroleague season has been a harsh education – the leap from EuroCup champions to competing against the continent’s established elite proved too steep. But the numbers do not tell the complete story. Paris have won their last three Euroleague home matches, and with Hifi averaging 22.1 points per game – the highest in the entire competition – they remain dangerous on any given night.

Olympiacos (3rd, 19-10) arrive in Paris with genuine title ambitions. Georgios Bartzokas’s side beat Panathinaikos 86-80 in the Greek derby last round – and did it without their star forward Sasha Vezenkov, who remains injured. They average 90 points per game (3rd in the Euroleague), concede 84 (6th), and have built a squad deep enough to absorb key absences.

Tip-off: 19:45 CET, Porte de La Chapelle Arena (adidas arena), Paris. Euroleague Round 31.

Nadir Hifi: The Prince of Paris and the Euroleague’s Top Scorer

22.1 points per game. 1,000 career Euroleague points – reached in just 15 months. A single-game record of 29 points against Baskonia. The 2025 Euroleague Rising Star award. And all of this at 23 years old, standing 1.85 metres tall, playing for a club that did not exist in professional basketball until 2018.

Nadir Hifi is the most compelling individual story in European basketball this season. The French-Algerian guard uses 39.8% of Paris’s possessions – an extraordinary usage rate that transforms the team’s offence into a one-man show when he is at his best. Without him on the court, Paris’s net efficiency drops by 13 points per 100 possessions. He is the offence.

His shot chart tells the story of a complete scorer: effective near the rim (75% from close range), dangerous from three (30% on high volume), and relentless at the free-throw line. Against Real Madrid in January, he scored 21 points. Against Baskonia, 29. He has scored 20 or more in 14 Euroleague games this season.

T.J. Shorts provides the secondary creation. Momo Faye adds size and athleticism inside. Tyrese Proctor – the Australian rookie – has shown flashes of brilliance off the bench. But this is Hifi’s team, Hifi’s arena, and Hifi’s moment.

📊 Key Stat: Hifi leads the Euroleague in total points scored AND points per game (22.1). He has scored 20+ in 14 of 29 matches this season. (Source: Euroleague)

Olympiacos: The Quiet Contender Without Vezenkov

While Fenerbahçe and Real Madrid attract the headlines, Olympiacos have built a squad that is arguably the most balanced in the competition. They sit 3rd – one win behind Valencia for 2nd – and have won 8 of their last 10 matches across all competitions. The derby victory over Panathinaikos confirmed that this team can win under maximum pressure.

The Vezenkov absence is significant but not crippling. The Bulgarian forward – the 2023 Euroleague MVP – provides scoring and rebounding that no single player can replace. But Bartzokas has compensated by distributing offensive responsibility across the squad. Kendrick Nunn (acquired from the NBA in the summer) provides perimeter scoring. Tyler Dorsey adds shooting off the bench. And Moustapha Fall anchors the defence with his 2.18m frame.

Olympiacos’s away form is the critical factor. They have scored over 90.5 points in their last 5 away matches – an astonishing output that reflects both their offensive quality and the high-tempo style Bartzokas demands. But they have also conceded in volume: only one clean first quarter in their last 14 away matches.

Olympiacos are unbeaten in their last 2 meetings with Paris Basketball, winning both. The most recent was an 86-80 victory in Piraeus earlier this season.

What the Experts Say

Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach: “Paris are desperate for every win right now – they still have play-in hopes, and Hifi has everything to prove. We must respect his ability to score 30 on any night.”

Sébastien Music, Paris Basketball assistant coach: “We know the table. We know we cannot qualify. But we represent Paris and we play to win every match at home. Our fans deserve that.”

David Blatt, basketball analyst: “Hifi is the most exciting young guard in European basketball. NBA scouts are watching every game. This match against Olympiacos is a showcase.”

“Olympiacos moneyline at approximately 1.55 is fair. But the total points market is the play – Over 171.5 at 1.85 reflects two teams that score freely and defend inconsistently.”

What Comes Next

For Olympiacos, every remaining game matters in the race for home-court advantage in the play-in and playoffs. A top-4 finish guarantees them a direct path to the playoffs – avoiding the play-in round entirely. For Paris, these final matches are auditions – for Hifi’s future (NBA? Stay in Paris?), for the club’s identity, and for the young players who will form the core of next season’s squad.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the odds for Paris Basketball vs Olympiacos? Olympiacos are favourites at approximately 1.55. Paris Basketball are around 2.50 for the home win. The over/under line is set at 171.5, with the over priced at 1.85.

What is the best bet for Paris vs Olympiacos? Over 171.5 total points at 1.85 offers the strongest value. Paris score freely at home under Hifi’s leadership, and Olympiacos have scored 90+ points in their last 5 away matches. High-scoring is virtually guaranteed.

What is the predicted score for Paris vs Olympiacos? Our prediction is Paris 82-89 Olympiacos. The Greek side’s superior depth and defensive structure should be enough, but Hifi will score 25+ and keep Paris competitive throughout. Olympiacos win by 7 in a match that produces 170+ total points.

Is Vezenkov playing for Olympiacos? Sasha Vezenkov remains injured and is expected to miss this match. Olympiacos beat Panathinaikos 86-80 without him last round, demonstrating their depth.

Who is Nadir Hifi? Nadir Hifi is the Euroleague’s top scorer with 22.1 points per game – a 23-year-old French-Algerian guard who has scored over 1,000 career Euroleague points in just 15 months. He won the 2025 Euroleague Rising Star award.