By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid was trailing by 10 near the end of the third period but rallied back at the fourth to beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 80 – 75 at home behind a near triple-double performance by Luka Doncic (10 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists).
The Slovenian wunderkid also registered a new career-high in PIR with a number 32 and provided crucial defensive helps as the “Blancos” reached victory no. 12 in the EuroLeague regular season in seventeen games.
Sergio Llull was also instrumental in his team’s win, scoring eight out of his 13 points during two minutes in the fourth period, helping Real transform the 59 – 64 to 67 – 66. Rudy Fernandez (14 points, 5 assists) and Gustavo Ayon (14 points) put the finishing touch along with a key lay-uyp by Trey Thompkins (5 points) for the 78 – 73 with 13 seconds to go.
Maccabi Tel Aviv had managed an advantage during the majority of the match thanks to some solid threat from the perimeter and by capitalizing on its opponents’ nervous shooting but ultimately was defeated for the 11th time in the season.
Andrew Goudelock and Victor Rudd dropped 18 points each for the “Yellows”, with the latter adding 9 rebounds. Quincy Miller also looked to regaining his pre-injury shape, finishing with 14 points.
Their efforts were good enough to get Maccabi off to a hot 16 – 21 start (despite 8 turnovers in the first quarter vs Real’s four) and take control at the third quarter despite being down 37 – 36 at halftime.
Yogev Ohayon made it 43 – 53 with 3 minutes to go in the third period but everything went downhill from his team from that point onward since Real Madrid found back its missing offensive mojo and the guests lost theirs.