By Amy Samin

With Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv's 88-67 loss to Khimki Moscow in Russia, their Top 16 record sinks to 1-3. Lior Eliyahu (17 points), Shawn James (14 points) and Devin Smith (12 points) were the high scorers for Maccabi. Nik Caner-Medley, in his first game back with the team following his injury last month, finished with 6 points.

Starters for Maccabi were Devin Smith, team captain Lior Eliyahu, Yogev Ohayon, Darko Planinic and Ricky Hickman. The first half of the quarter belonged to Smith and Eliyahu, with the captain scoring repeatedly in the paint, and Smith dropping treys from the right wing and the left, along with a couple of deuces. At the halfway mark Maccabi led 16-10. Shawn James added a putback slam, while Hickman drove in the lane, and David Logan sank a three from the top of the arc. The period ended with Maccabi leading 25-19.

Khimki came roaring back in the second quarter, sinking shot after shot while keeping a choke hold on Maccabi's offense. Midway through the period the hosts took the lead, 31-29. Maccabi managed to score only five more points in the period, which ended with Khimki leading 46-34.

Seven straight points by Eliyahu at the start of the third quarter helped Maccabi pull within nine, 50-41 after two minutes. Ohayon and Planinic scored, but Khimki continued to dominate. A steal and points by Eliyahu made it 62-47 with less than three and a half minutes left in the period. Nik Caner-Medley, in his first game since his injury a month ago, sank a perfect three from the left wing, but Khimki was able to increase their lead to twenty by the end of the quarter, 70-50.

The Russians continued to control the game in the early minutes of the fourth quarter, and Maccabi's first points in the period came on a dunk by Hickman after nearly three minutes of action. Smith added a three, and James scored eight straight, but with less than two and a half minutes remaining the hosts' lead stood at 83-62. Caner-Medley added a three at the buzzer, but Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv fell to Khimki Moscow, 88-67 in game 4 of the Euroleague Top 16, bringing their record to 1-3.

BOXSCORE

Maccabi: Eliyahu 17 points; James 14 points, 6 rebounds; Smith 12 points; Hickman 7 points; Caner-Medley (5 rebounds) and Ohayon (6 assists) 6 points each; Logan 3 points; Planinic 2 points.

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