Maccabi Tel Aviv is in a simply dreamy period in the European arena when it managed against all odds to advance to the playoffs. Avi Even’s team is currently hosting the Turkish Fenerbahce for a rematch from the 23rd round of the Euroleague.
Although the Yellows arrive when they are in an excellent period in the Euroleague and after a crushing victory over the table leader Barcelona 80: 104 away, but in the local arena Maccabi suffered a disappointing loss in the opening game of the upper house in the form of 85:82 from Hapoel Holon away and is now trying to return to victory. Tonight’s victory of Avi Even and his trainees and they will take off for Madrid this coming Tuesday, a loss and they will travel to Milan already on Monday
On the other hand, for the Turks this is a game that will not affect their European season in any way after they have already been eliminated. Fenerbahce are in a bad period after losing their last home game in the Euroleague against Panathinaikos and also their last league round against Glatsray.
Maccabi Tel Aviv quintet: James Nanley, Derrick Williams, Scotty Wilbkin, Keenan Evans and Ante Žižić.
Fenerbahce Quintet: Hamit Dobroglo, Devin Booker, Dashon Pierre, Freya Henry and Shamis Hazar.
Žižić caught a huge dunk from Wilbkin’s assist and scored the first points of the game. Hazer stitched a three and put the Turks in the lead. Boker caught his own dunk, added two more points in a passing attack and raised the Turks to six points. Žižić completed a three-point move and shrank to three. Morning returned to five. Thomas with a great three shrank to two, Wilbkin equalized after a fatal outburst. Williams scored a three and equalized. Boker restored the Turkish advantage to three. Reynolds scored five points in a row and gave Maccabi a one point advantage.
James Nanley scored a three-and-a-half minute after the start of the quarter and raised Maccabi to three, Godovich equalized with a three of his own. Floyd scored a huge dunk, Wilbkin returned with two shots from the line and it was a tie again. Godovich scored two easy goals, Dibertolomao scored a three from the other side and gave Maccabi a point advantage. Nanley scored two straight threes and opened a five-yard gap in favor of the Yellows. Dobroglo shrank to three. Morning with another mighty dunk shrank to a point. Zizic continued his great point game and raised Maccabi to three, Nanley scored a basket, added a point from the line and it was six for the Yellows. Dobroglo completed a 0-4 run and shrank to two. Wilbkin with another big three raised Maccabi to five.
Dobroglo opened the half with a dunk, Žižić returned with three points of his own and gave Maccabi a point advantage. Nanley scored a great three, completed a 0-6 run and put the Yellows in a six-point lead Henry penetrated the color, scored two hard and shrank to four. The game warmed up, Floyd pushed Reynolds after the latter sent an elbow towards him and both players suffered technical fouls, Reynolds finished the game.