Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv returned to its winning ways as they kept their home safe. After two hard fought away games against CSKA and Panathinaikos, Spahija's squad have tightened up their defense to take down the reigning EuroLeague champs Fenerbache.
Coach Spahija's starting five: Jackson, Roll, Kane, Bolden and Parakhouski. Maccabi started strong with Pierre on offense and Jonah on defense to gain an early 9:0 lead two minutes into the game forcing coach Zeljiko Obradovic to call for an early timeout. Five minutes into the game Fener scored their first points of the game but Jackson and Parakhouski reacted quick to increase Maccabi's lead to 15:2. The Turks scored from the free throw line but Tyus and Zoosman reacted as well (17:4). Fener started taking down Maccabi's lead however a huge block by Zoosman followed by a successful two point shot by Cole cooled things down, Zoosman scored a three pointer however Ali Mohamad was the one who had the last say in the first quarter as Maccabi had the 24:15 lead.
Fener opened the second quarter with a 10:2 run (26:25), great ability by Kane, Mashour and Parakhouski have woken up the yellows enroute of a 30:25 lead 15 minutes into the game. Cole's three pointer got Maccabi closer to a double digit lead again but Vesely and Nunnally brought Fener close to within a striking distance with three minutes remaining in the first half. Cole and Bolden scored to give Maccabi a bigger safety margin (37:30). Tyus and Art got into foul trouble and were replaced by Thomas and Cohen. With both teams struggling to score Cole scored from distance but it was Ali again who had the final say as the yellows had the 40:36 lead at halftime.
Melli completed a three point play to tie the game at the beginning of the third quarter. Art and Roll took matters into their own hands to regain the lead (48:42). With both Kane and Bolden delivering on both ends of the court Maccabi maintained its lead (52:46). Both teams came back from the TV timeout with Maccabi being more focused as Pierre scored back to back threes that forced coach Obradovic call for another timeout with his team down by 12 points (58:46). Nunnally scored a three pointer to enter the final period down by six 60:54.
Cole and Jackson were amazing at the beginning of the fourth increasing Maccabi's lead to 67:56 90 seconds into the quarter. Tyus with two huge blocks alongside Thomas in fast breaks gave the yellows the 71:58 lead which led Fener to take another timeout. Jackson scored to give the locals a 16 point lead, however Zoc's players made another comeback attempt as a three pointer by Datome took Maccabi's lead down to 77:70 with two minutes remaining. Tyus' offensive rebound alongside Cole who simply made the impossible (basket) possible secured the 82:73 home win.