Tonight (Tuesday), Maccabi Tel Aviv continues its journey towards finishing in the top eight of the Euroleague in a difficult away game against Barcelona.
Both teams come after losses in the European factory – the Yellows to Olympiakos, while the Blaugrana to Real Madrid at the end of extra time in one of the best matches of the season in the Euroleague. On Oded Ketch’s side, Austin Hollins is suffering from a knee injury that he suffered in Maccabi’s loss to Panathinaikos and may undergo surgery that will disable him for a period of between three and four months, an injury that could end the season for him. A victory for the Yellows will keep them on a positive balance sheet and bring them closer to the top six, while Barcelona will look to drive a peg at the top to advance towards Real Madrid and Olympiakos who are leading on the eve of the round.
Maccabi remembers well the first meeting of the season against the team of Sharonas Jasikvicius, the former Yellows, who beat them at Hichal Menorah 79:86 in the first round and were the only team to beat Ketch’s players at home.
Quarter 1
Barcelona went up 2:7, but Martin and Baldwin forced a quick equalizer and the next few minutes were close. Three-pointers by Proprofitola and Storanski helped the Catalans to create an advantage, but not escape. At that stage Maccabi was chasing the host and stayed close thanks to good work in defense, when at the end of the quarter the score was 15:20 to Barcelona.
Quarter 2
Baldwin’s successful management and Sorkin’s positive actions on both sides of the field helped Maccabi Tel Aviv stay in the picture even at the beginning of the second quarter (23:21). A three-pointer brought Barcelona up to 25:30 and both teams went to a timeout, from which the opponent came back sharper. Sharas’ group increased the difference, the yellows lost concentration and already trailed 39:28, but came back thanks to Wesley’s mistakes, with a three-pointer by Hilliard at the buzzer 37:41 to Barcelona at half time
Quarter 3
5 consecutive points at the beginning of the second half put Maccabi ahead 41:42 and Sorkin added a layup that put the yellow run at 0:10 (including the previous quarter). Mirotic’s 3-pointer did wake up Barcelona, but not enough for them. Adams and Baldwin continued to lead and Maccabi increased to 46:51 and later to 51:58. The guest scored in every attack, Barcelona looked stressed and at the end of the third quarter the result was 62:67 to Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Quarter 4
Barcelona started the last quarter with a lot of enthusiasm and energy and managed to reduce the score to 70:66. At this point, a digging war began in which Mirotic took the reins while reducing Barcelona’s deficit to only 74:73. Martin missed a three-pointer on the other side, Higgins snipe from outside the arc and the host went up 74:78 with a run of 0:10.
In the 23rd round of the Euroleague (Thursday, 9:30 p.m.), Maccabi Tel Aviv will continue to the second away game in Spain when they host Valencia.