After two consecutive road EuroLeague games, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv returns to Menora Mivtachim Arena, facing Olimpia Milano as part of the 11th fixture of the 2020/21 season (Thursday, 21:00, live on Sport5 - Channel 55). The Yellow & Blue won their last two home games against Zalgiris Kaunas and Hapoel Haifa but suffered two road losses in Spain versus Real Madrid and Valencia.

Sandy Cohen was suspended for the past two days after the win over Haifa, didn't participate in the team practice, and won't be registered for the game on Thursday. John DiBartolomeo, who made his season debut on Sunday after missing an extended period due to nagging injuries, will suit up and be available for coach Giannis Sfairopoulos.

The Italians come into Tel Aviv with a 4:3 record, missing multiple games because of COVID-19. Ettore Messina's star-studded roster includes ex Maccabi Michael Roll, Sergio Rodriguez, Luigi Datome, Kyle Hines, Malcolm Delaney, Vladimir Micov, Kevin Punter, Zach LeDay, and Shavon Shields.



"Milano comes in averaging the second-most points in the EuroLeague, and they're a really talented group", Said head coach Giannis Sfairopoulos about the Italian opponent. "Lately, they've had their full roster after having COVID issues, and last game, they scored 92 points, which shows they're offensive quality. Defensively, they try disorganizing their opponent's offensive flow". 

"It's in our hands to fight hard, bring all of our energy tomorrow, and have great motivation to do so after playing much better against Valencia as we deserved to win that game but lost due to details. Now it's our time to win playing good basketball on both ends of the court", Concluded Sfairopoulos.



"We got to win this game right now, like every game at this point is a must-win starting against Milano", Told the Yellow & Blue center Othello Hunter at the pregame press conference. "We just got to stay focused and play one game at a time. I think we come into games thinking we can win, knowing we can win, but it's just a matter of executing everything on the court".

John DiBartolomeo, who'll make his European seasonal debut on Thursday, said towards the matchup: "We come out to win every game, Milano is a very challenging team, they have a lot of weapons on offense, adding a lot of pieces. As far as our game plan, our focus is on the defensive end. That's where we want to pride ourselves at, that's where we want our identity to be, and playing against the second-best offense in the EuroLeague is a good test for us, and we need to be ready for it".

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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv suffered a dramatic 85:86 loss in overtime to Olimpia Milano, dropping their seasonal record to 3:8 in the EuroLeague. The Yellow & Blue were on their way to secure the win holding a 4 point edge, 19 seconds remaining, but the Italians connected for a 4 point play, which led to overtime. Malcolm Delaney scored the game-winning shot closing out an unfortunate defeat. Elijah Bryant and Scottie Wilbekin led the Israeli champions with 17 points each.

Scottie Wilbekin, Tyler Dorsey, Elijah Bryant, Angelo Caloiaro, and Ante Zizic started for the Yellow & Blue. On the other end, Malcolm Delany, Kevin Punter, Vladimir Micov, Zach Leday, and Kaleb Tarczewski opened for the Italian side.

Wilbekin began the contest with a triple and dished a bounce pass to Caloiaro, who laid it in under the basket as Delany and Micov scored 5 for the reds tying the game at five. The Yellow & Blue knocked in 7 consecutive points, which led to an Ettore Messina timeout, 12:5. 

Shavon Shields and Kyle Hines came off the bench and led the visitors to an 8:0 run tying it up at 15. Bryant saved a ball from going out of bounds, and Jones drilled a shot from deep as Bryant hooked in two in the paint, closing out the first 10 minutes with a 20:18 edge.

Sergio Rodriguez equaled the contest at 20, but Bender quickly regained the margin as the Croatian big man pumped fake a shot from deep, which fooled Brooks, drove to the bucket, and converted a three-point play, adding two more for the charity strike, 25:20. 

John DiBartolomeo drilled an off-balance triple, and Othello Hunter kept a 5 point edge, but Shields and Delany led Milano to a 15:0 stretch, opening a 12 point advantage at the half, 35:46. 

Maccabi started the second half strong as Wilbekin, Bryant, and Bender led an 11:3 run diminishing the Reds margin down to 3, 46:49. Hines converted his fifth bucket inside, and Rodriguez knocked down a triple, retrieving an 8 point lead. Bryant (14 points) and Wilbekin kept the hosts in striking distance heading into the final quarter, 53:59.

Dorsey laid in two, and Hunter grabbed an offensive board and converted inside for a three-point possession, 58:59. Punter hit a two-pointer, but Chris Jones completed the comeback tying it up at 61 at the midway point after shooting a corner three. 

Oz Blayzer played well defensively, stopping Shields multiple times as he laid in two in the paint, and Wilbekin drilled a critical three and floated two in over Hines, giving the hosts a 2 point lead with 1 minute left 68:66. Hunter slammed down an alley hoop pass from Wilbekin, opening a 4 point edge, but Kevin Punter converted a four-point play sending the teams to overtime, 70:70.

Punter and Jeff Brooks scored four for Maccabi, but DiBartolomeo and Wilbekin hit from the free-throw line, and Bryant scored a three-point play inside, 76:74. Brooks drilled a corner three, and Punter added one from the charity strike retaking the lead with 2:30 minutes left in overtime, 76:78. After a good defensive possession, Wilbekin found DiBartolomeo, who hit a key triple.

Delany responded with a three of his own, but Hunter connected twice from the line, tying the game at 81. Hunter tipped in two after an offensive board, and Scottie, with 14 seconds left, gave Maccabi a one-point edge, giving Milano one last possession. The Italian side went to Delany, who hit a mid-range jumper with 3 seconds left. Caloiaro shot from the half-court logo but missed right. Milano comes up with the dramatic 86:85 win over Maccabi.

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