By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite missing injured Lonny Walker, Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv played on their home soil against Zalgiris Kaunas, and that made a difference.
In front of their fans, the Israelis got the 1o0-97 win over the Lithuanians, who trailed for most of the game, and dropped to 12-10, while the home side improved to 9-13.
The key to Maccabi‘s win was 15/33 threes that made all the difference, with five players scoring in double digits, and the duo of Romain Sorkin and TJ Lead leading the way with 17 points each.
Trailing just by three at halftime (52-49), Zalgiris was close; however, Maccabi, thanks to a three-pointer by Tamir Blatt, jumped to a 10-point lead near the end of the third period (78-68).
Sylvain Francisco, who finished the game with 22 points, answered back the same way to close the third period (78-71), but Maccabi continued to push in the last period, extending their advantage to 12 points (90-78).
Zalgiris did make it a six-point game (91-85), and Iffe Lundberg (photo) kept Maccabi’s distance (93-85) with four and a half minutes left.
The Lithuanians didn’t give up, trimming the lead to three (94-91) two minutes later after a buzzer-beating floater by Maodo Lo and to two (96-94) after a big three by Fransisco.
Marcio Santos made one of two free throws (97-94) with one minute left, Zalgiris lost three straight chances to score and tie the game, and the hosts led by three (100-97) with eight seconds left after three made free throws and Zalgiris three, again by Fransisco.
The end of the game was sloppy, which was also confirmed by Azuolas Tubelis of Zalgiris turning over the ball, and then Santos, who stole it, also losing it. With three seconds left, Maodo Lo had a last shot. He tried almost from half court, it hit the rim, and the game was over.
Moses Wright had a double-double for Zalgiris (17 p., 11 r.), but it was not enough.
Photo credit: EuroLeague