By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was a sloppy game, especially in the closing seconds, still, Barcelona wanted to bounce back after the close defeat – their third straight in the EuroLeague – in Athens to Panathinaikos and did exactly that.
The final score was 88-86 as Barcelona got to an 8-6 record and Maccabi dropped to 4-10, paying once more the price of not playing in Tel Aviv.
Kevin Punter with 18 points, Jabari Parker with 17, and Justin Anderson with 14 created an admirable trio, while Willy Hernangomez just missed the double-double (11 p. 9 r.).
“I think that we wanted it a little bit more, especially myself, and that’s what it takes, try to do all that you can”, said Parker after the game.
As Anderson added: “That Panathinaikos game was gut-wrenching, we couldn’t sleep and you could tell that we were ready for this game, take a little bit of revenge”.
On the other side, Jaylen Hoard had 20 points, Tamir Blatt added 14 and 1o assist for Maccabi, while Levi Randolph scored 12.
A real barnburner
Barcelona had an impressive start, leading 22-14 before Jake Cohen trimmed their lead to six (22-16) at the end of the first period. Barcelona kept a seven-point lead (30-23) with six minutes left in the first half, and then everything changed.
Maccabi closed the second period with a 21-7 run and Jaylen Hoard closed the first half with 12 points as the Israelis were up by seven (44-37).
The hosts kept their momentum in the second half, building a 16-point lead (53-37) after a three by Blatt. That was the cue for Jabari Parker to take over and close the gap to four (62-58) scoring seven points on a 13-2 run.
Maccabi entered the last period leading by two (66-64) and Barcelona got the lead back (68-66) with a 4-0 start in the quarter. Maccabi got the lead back (70-68), Punter answered back with a three (71-70) and the game ended up being a thriller.
With three minutes left, the score was tied at 82 after a big three by Maccabi newcomer David De Julius. Everything was on the line with constant lead changes and Anderson made a big off-balance shot giving Barcelona a three-point cushion (87-84) with 1.35 left.
De Julius and Punter missed, but Parker got the offensive rebound, was fouled, and made one of two free throws (88-84).
Marial Shayok scored for Maccabi (88-86), Punter missed again and Parker got the offensive rebound, however, this time he stepped on the sideline.
Maccabi had the ball with 13 seconds left and Parker redeemed himself by stealing the ball from Tamir Blatt and getting a jump ball with Shayok with 1.5 seconds left.He also won the jump ball and the game was over.
Photo credit: EuroLeague