By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After a shaky start in the season, Maccabi Tel Aviv is back for good. That was evident in the 85-68 triumph against previously unbeaten Barcelona with the Israeli powerhouse simply being unstoppable.
James Nunnally set the tone early with 17 points, Scottie Wilbekin added 16, and Derrick Williams added 12 for the winning side, which also got 10 points from each of Ante Zizic and Jalen Reynolds.
“We didn’t have a preseason, so in every game, we are trying to learn each other, our weaknesses and our strengths and I think we are coming together good”, said Nunnally referring to the COVID issues that didn’t let Maccabi have proper preparation for the season.
Maccabi started the gamer with a 31-18 first quarter, closing it with an 8-0 run and led at halftime by 20 points (56-36). The hosts were shooting 60% in threes and 60% in two-pointers, Barcelona couldn’t stop them and the best they could do was their own 10-2 run to start the third period.
“Our defense was great in the second part of the party, but we missed the first part”, said Barcelona coach and Maccabi legend Sarunas Jasikevicius. “It was a classic way to lose in Tel Aviv, Maccabi in the first quarter scoring 31 points, the fans were jumping up and down, Maccabi got confidence, and then it’s very hard to win. We lost the game somewhere in our trip between Istanbul and Tel Aviv, cause some of my players were not ready”.
The guests cut the lead to 12 (58-46) and to 11 points at the end of the third (65-54), but the hosts saved the best for last jumping back to a 20-point lead (85-65).
“It was normal that at some point Barcelona would react, but we kept control for the biggest part of the game”, added Maccabi coach Giannis Sfairopoulos.
Cory Higgins with 20 points and Mirotic with 17 were the top scorers of Barcelona which has now a 6-1 record, while Maccabi after four straight wins jumped to 5-2.