By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Maccabi Tel Aviv snapped back from a three-game losing streak to defeat a feisty Crvena Zvezda at home 81-76 for Round 12 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. The Israeli team improves to a 4-8 record while forcing their visitors to 4-8 as well.
Scottie Wilbekin stepped up for the home team in this challenging contest, adding 23 points, four rebounds and three assists, as Maccabi resisted Zvezda’s third-period comeback to secure the victory in the final minutes.
Elijah Bryant saved the day for the Israeli team in the end, posting 18 points and 6 rebounds in total, while Othello Hunter posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, along with three assists.
“It is a very important win, it’s not easy psychologically to overcome these losses after good performances. During important parts of the game tonight we tried to stay focused and calm and not lose our concentration because that was the most important thing, to finish in the right way, make the right decisions in the end and this was what the players did. That’s why I want to congratulate all of them, for the win, first of all, but also for how they reacted in the last minutes”, said coach Giannis Sfairopoulos after the game.
Zvezda had Jordan Loyd leading the way with 24 points and 5 assists. Dejan Davidovac had 14 points and Johnny O’Bryant tapped 13 points against his former team. Despite recovering from a 52-39 deficit in the third period and eventually taking the lead, the visitors were taken aback by Elijah Bryant, who evened the score with 6 minutes left to play and eventually restored Maccabi’s lead.
This marks the third straight loss for the Serbian team that will look to bounce back against Olympiacos next week.
Photo: EuroLeague