A new EuroLeague career high for Norris Cole (26p) secured an important home win over Zalgiris who managed to cut a 16 points margin to just three. Jackson added 12 for the yellows. Spahija's bunch are now 6:4 in the standings as they head on to their first domestic classico on Sunday versus Hapoel Jerusalem.
Spahija's starting five: Jackson, Role, Kane, Bolden and Parakhouski. The Belarusian center started the game in a great fashion as he single handedly put Maccabi up 5:2 two minutes into the game. Zalgiris' reacted with a 6:0 run to take the lead as the first quarter reached its halfway mark. Tyus stepped into the game and immediately made his presence felt with eight points en route a 15:14 yellow lead after 10 minutes.
Zalgiris opened the second quarter more focused as White and Bost gave Zalgiris the lead again. Cohen reacted with athree pointer of his own to give Maccabi the 20:18 lead. Both teams were called for unsportsmanlike fouls with the scoreboard showing 25:25. Thomas scored a three pointer to regain the lead, Art continued his dominance as Bolden put up a defensive clinic. Jackson and Cole delivered on offense to finish the first half strong with Maccabi up ahead 39-29 over Zalgiris.
Maccabi's momentum continued into the second half as Cole's back to back three pointers gave Maccabi a 48-31 lead. White and Jankunas reacted as they took down Maccabi's lead to 12 (49:37). Bolden and Kane continued with their great defensive performance as a three pointer by Roll gave Maccabi a 57-41 lead, Saras' squad refused to give up as they made another attempt at a comeback taking the yellow's lead down to just 11 points but Roll & Cole made Sure Maccabi finished the third quarter strong with a 65:51 lead.
Zalgiris came poised to the fourth quarter as a 10:0 run (65:61) made coach Spahija call for a timeout. Bolden with a thunderous dunk gave Maccabi their first points in the fourth quarter with an assist by Jackson, Milaknis reacted with back to back three pointers to put Zalgiris within a striking distance with four minutes remaining. Cole scored a three pointer and followed by successful free throws by Jackson gave Maccabi the 75-67 lead from which Zalgiris never came back as Maccabi got the 81-74 win.
Spahija's starting five: Jackson, Role, Kane, Bolden and Parakhouski. The Belarusian center started the game in a great fashion as he single handedly put Maccabi up 5:2 two minutes into the game. Zalgiris' reacted with a 6:0 run to take the lead as the first quarter reached its halfway mark. Tyus stepped into the game and immediately made his presence felt with eight points en route a 15:14 yellow lead after 10 minutes.
Zalgiris opened the second quarter more focused as White and Bost gave Zalgiris the lead again. Cohen reacted with athree pointer of his own to give Maccabi the 20:18 lead. Both teams were called for unsportsmanlike fouls with the scoreboard showing 25:25. Thomas scored a three pointer to regain the lead, Art continued his dominance as Bolden put up a defensive clinic. Jackson and Cole delivered on offense to finish the first half strong with Maccabi up ahead 39-29 over Zalgiris.
Maccabi's momentum continued into the second half as Cole's back to back three pointers gave Maccabi a 48-31 lead. White and Jankunas reacted as they took down Maccabi's lead to 12 (49:37). Bolden and Kane continued with their great defensive performance as a three pointer by Roll gave Maccabi a 57-41 lead, Saras' squad refused to give up as they made another attempt at a comeback taking the yellow's lead down to just 11 points but Roll & Cole made Sure Maccabi finished the third quarter strong with a 65:51 lead.
Zalgiris came poised to the fourth quarter as a 10:0 run (65:61) made coach Spahija call for a timeout. Bolden with a thunderous dunk gave Maccabi their first points in the fourth quarter with an assist by Jackson, Milaknis reacted with back to back three pointers to put Zalgiris within a striking distance with four minutes remaining. Cole scored a three pointer and followed by successful free throws by Jackson gave Maccabi the 75-67 lead from which Zalgiris never came back as Maccabi got the 81-74 win.