Βy Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In just 40 minutes of action, Real Madrid beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 116-113, setting a record for most points scored by two opponents in a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game not including overtime.
However, in a game that was all offense, a good defense in the last three seconds didn’t give Maccabi the chance to send it to extra time.
“We didn’t play enough defense today, we have to play more defense if we want to play for important things”, admitted Facundo Campazzo who had 31 points and eight assists.
Mario Hezonja added 25 points and Dzanan Musa had 20 as the “Whites” have a 12-9 record.
Maccabi dropped to 5-16 despite an admirable effort which included 20 points by Rokas Jokubaitis and 19 by Jalen Hoard.
An offensive show
The first quarter was spectacular with the hosts getting a 33-30 lead after 10 minutes of action after trailing 13-5 at the start of the game with Campazzo and Musa already scoring 11 points each.
The shoot-out continued and the score was tied at 53 with three minutes left in the second period with Mario Hezonja reaching early the 17-point mark, while Jalen Hoard had 10 points and Rokas Jokubaitis 12 for Maccabi.
At halftime, however, Maccabi was up by six (63-57) with Roman Sorkin scoring 13 points.
The game continued to be all offense in the third period which ended with Madrid up by one (91-90) and finally in the fourth quarter everything changed.
The tempo finally was slower, the offense cooled down a bit but with three minutes left, the score was tied at 105.
With 27 seconds left, Dzanan Musa made the score 114-113 with two free throws. Maccabi had the next possession, but couldn’t make a shot in time. Madrid got possession again with three seconds on the clock, Campazzo was fouled and made two free throws (116-113).
Levi Randolph had one last chance to send the game into overtime, but couldn’t get an open look, he missed and Madrid got the win.
Photo credit: EuroLeague