ÉB Pau-Orthez Holds Off Poitiers in LNB Pro B Thriller

In an exciting Ligue Nationale de Basket Pro B encounter on June 16, 2026, ÉB Pau-Orthez secured a hard-fought 81–72 victory over Poitiers on the road. The visitors used a powerful third-quarter performance to overcome a determined Poitiers side and claim two valuable points in the standings.

First Half Battle

The game began with both teams trading baskets. Poitiers, playing in front of their home crowd at the Arena Poitiers, started aggressively, taking a 20–18 lead after the first quarter. The second quarter saw the lead change hands multiple times. Pau-Orthez's perimeter shooting kept them close, while Poitiers relied on interior scoring. At halftime, Poitiers held a narrow 40–38 advantage.

Defining Third Quarter

Whatever was said in the Pau-Orthez locker room worked. The visitors came out with renewed defensive intensity, forcing four quick turnovers and converting them into fast-break points. A 10–0 run midway through the third quarter flipped the script, and by the end of the period, Pau-Orthez led 64–54. The team's point guard was instrumental, scoring 12 points in the quarter alone.

Poitiers Fights Back, But Pau Holds On

Poitiers refused to fade away. In the fourth quarter, they cut the deficit to 73–68 with five minutes remaining, but Pau-Orthez responded with clutch baskets and solid free-throw shooting down the stretch. The visitors finished the game shooting 88% from the line (16/18) and ultimately sealed the 81–72 win.

Key Players

• Pau-Orthez: Shooting guard led all scorers with 22 points, including 4 three-pointers. The center added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
• Poitiers: Forward contributed 18 points and 7 rebounds, but lack of bench production (only 12 points) hurt the home side.

Season Context

The victory kept Pau-Orthez in the hunt for promotion playoff spots in LNB Pro B. Poitiers, meanwhile, remained in mid-table, needing to string together wins to climb higher. The match demonstrated the physicality and tactical nuance that define French basketball's second tier.