With a record of 3:9 Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv entered the final straight of the first round wanting to end it on a high not. Both teams traded blows enroute of an extremely close first quarter, Maccabi then found their offensive rhythm as they finished the first half ahead 35:31. The squad in yellow and blue completed a dreamy 44:32 second half to send a message: We're still here. Maccabi improve their record to 4:9 and they will face Zalgiris Kaunas on the road in 48 hours.
Coach Sfairopoulos' starting five: Scottie, Kane, Caloiaro, O'Bryantand Black. Thomas was the first to score in the game but Johnny and Tarik answered as Maccabi took the 6:4 lead. With the game tied (8:8) Maccabi started to capitalize on the offensive end taking the 12:10 lead. Mickey and Croker gave Khimki the edge but Kane tied the game from the free throw line (16:16). Croker managed to beat the buzzer to give Khimki the 16:18 lead at the end of the first quarter.
John-Di scored from deep at the beginning of the second quarter to give Maccabi the 19:18 edge but Khimki reacted with a 5:0 run forcing coach Sfairopoulos to call for a timeout (19:23). O'Bryant and Johnny scored back to back threes to stay within a striking distance as the scoreboard showed (25:27). Scottie scored six points to give Maccabi the 33:29 lead with 02:21 remaining in the first half. Wilbekin had the final say in the first half from the free throw line to give Maccabi the 35:31 lead at half time.
Scottie was also the man at the beginning of the third as he increased the yellows' lead to 38:31. Tarik and Angelo completed an 8:0 run for Maccabi before Jenkins scored Khimki's first points in the third quarter (43:33). Both teams traded blows again with Maccabi keeping their double digit lead (48:38). Maccabi's offense started to fire on all cylinders with Zoosman and Ray scoring from deep continuing with Tyus connecting with Kane for a thunderous dunk as coach Sfairopoulos' squad took the 58:42 lead. Ray was unstoppable from deep as he managed to beat the buzzer with another three to make it 61:42 as the third quarter came to an end.
Vialtsev started the fourth quarter with a three point play but Kane Ray and Kane made it 64:45. Vialtsev and Mickey completed a 5:0 run as Coach Sfairopoulos called for a timeout (64:50). Caloiaro and Wilbekin increased Maccabi's lead, Monia reacted from deep but Maccabi kept their composure increasing their lead to 74:54 from which Khimki couldn't recover as the hosts grabbed the 7:63 home win.