Fourth-quarter surge sees Mac TA notch another win

Maccabi Tel Aviv took its winning streak over all competitions to 16 games, coming back from a double-digit deficit in the second half to beat Ironi Ness Ziona 99-91.

By ALLON SINAI
Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Joe Ingles scored 22 points in 22 minutes in his team’s 99-91 victory over Ironi Ness Ziona. (photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Joe Ingles scored 22 points in 22 minutes in his team’s 99-91 victory over Ironi Ness Ziona.
(photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Maccabi Tel Aviv took its winning streak over all competitions to 16 games on Saturday night, coming back from a double-digit deficit in the second half to beat Ironi Ness Ziona 99-91 at Nokia Arena for its seventh straight BSL triumph.
Less than 48 hours after improving to 4-0 in the Euroleague Top 16 with a dominant 88-67 victory over Partizan Belgrade, Maccabi found itself trailing Ness Ziona by eight points (47-39) at halftime. Ness Ziona’s lead reached 13 points (63-50) in the third quarter and the visitors were still ahead by eight points (73-65) with 10 minutes to play.
However, Maccabi would begin the fourth frame with a 16-3 run (81-76) and held on for another tight BSL victory to improve to 12-4.
After struggling in recent weeks, Joe Ingles scored 22 points in 22 minutes, netting 15 of them in the fourth quarter.
Tyrese Rice and Alex Tyus contributed 19 points each.
Diamon Simpson had 29 points and eight rebounds for Ness Ziona (9-7).
Maccabi will already go in search of its eighth consecutive BSL win on Monday when it visits Bnei Herzliya (5-11) ahead of Thursday’s Euroleague showdown with Real Madrid.
On Sunday, Maccabi Haifa (10-6) aims to continue its recent revival when it hosts Maccabi Rishon Lezion (5-11).
Haifa has won four of its past five BSL games and crushed perennial Italian champion Montepaschi Siena by 20 points in Eurocup action last Wednesday.
Haifa’s Donta Smith was named as the Eurocup’s weekly MVP after registering an index rating of 40. Smith claimed his second weekly MVP award of the season after leading the Greens to the victory with a perfect shooting night for 24 points, while also amassing six rebounds, two steals, one block and three drawn fouls.
Also Sunday, Hapoel Eilat (8-8) visits Maccabi Ashdod (3-13).
On Monday, Hapoel Tel Aviv (10-6) welcomes Hapoel Gilboa/ Galil (7-9) and Barak Netanya (6-10) faces Hapoel Holon (8-8).