By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Maccabi Tel Aviv almost let the game from its hands but thanks to a big block by Devin Smith got the 70-68 win over Barcelona and Real Madrid thanks to a good third quarter prevailed on the road over Alba Berlin (79-61) and remained unbeaten in Top16.
In Tel Aviv the defending champions despite leading for most of the game and a 66-56 advantage with five minutes to go, played with fire 19 seconds before the final buzzer. Barcelona was trailing by two (68-66) and Devin Smith travelled because of Alex Abrines great defense. Barca could tie or win the game, but Smith blocked Maciej Lampe, Jeremy Pargo was fouled, he made his two free throws (70-66) and Abrines just cut the final points difference to two also from the free throws line. Pargo (20 p., 7 as.), Smith (15 p.) and Sofoklis Shortsanitis (11 p., 9 r.) were the best for the winners. Ante Tomic (21 p., 10 r.) was the only double digits scorer for Barcelona. It was win number 500 in 800 games for Maccabi.
In Berlin things were simpler. The partial score in the second half was 43-27 in favor of the Spaniards as Sergio Rodriguez (12 p., 7 as.) once more led the charge, while Alba had in total 23 turnovers.