BASKETBALL: Maccabi Tel Aviv runs out of Magic

European champs lose in Orlando to split North American series.

By FRANKIE SACHS, AP
mac tel aviv magic (photo credit: Peter Cosgrove/AP)
mac tel aviv magic
(photo credit: Peter Cosgrove/AP)
Maccabi Tel Aviv lost a basketball game for the first time since February, but its players can still hold their heads high after splitting a two-game tour against NBA teams this week. Steve Francis had 20 points and eight assists and Dwight Howard contributed 14 points to help the Orlando Magic hold off the two-time defending Euroleague champs 93-79 on Wednesday night in Florida. Maccabi upset the Toronto Raptors 105-103 on Sunday. The Israelis were no pushovers against the Magic, opening a 10-point lead in the first quarter and regaining the lead as late as midway through the third quarter. But reserve forward Bo Outlaw came alive with four points, four rebounds and a block during a 17-3 run that gave the Magic a 72-58 advantage late in the period. Afterwards Orlando coach Brian Hill revealed that his team was a little extra motivated for the game. "We wanted to win the basketball game. There's a pride factor involved," he said. "They already had one win against an NBA team and we didn't want to let it happen again." Tel Aviv was equal to its NBA opponent in nearly every aspect, but like in Toronto, was crushed on the boards. The Magic outrebounded Maccabi 47-27, which turned out to be a major factor by the end. Anthony Parker, who played 17 games for the Magic in the 1999/2000 season, scored 20 points to lead Maccabi, while Will Solomon and Maceo Baston added 19 and 16, respectively. NBA All-Star Grant Hill left the game in the first quarter with an abdominal strain and didn't return. Hill scored 10 points in nine minutes. Outlaw had 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting and eight rebounds for the Magic, who had to give their top players extended minutes to get the victory over a determined Maccabi side. Tel Aviv trailed only 51-45 at halftime and took the lead again at 56-55 with 6:17 left in the third quarter on a three-pointer by Derrick Sharp. But Francis and Outlaw helped the Magic regain control and take a 73-62 lead into the fourth quarter. Maccabi cut the deficit to six with under two minutes to play, but a short jumper by Howard and two free throws by Jameer Nelson put away the game. Maccabi 28 17 17 17 - 79 Orlando 29 22 22 20 - 93 MACCABI Parker 8-13 2-4 20, Baston 5-11 6-10 16, Vujcic 4-12 0-0 8, Burstein 1-6 0-0 2, Solomon 7-18 3-4 19, Green 0-2 0-2 0, Sharp 3-5 3-3 12, Penney 1-3 0-0 2, Arnold 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-71 14-23 79. ORLANDO G.Hill 4-6 1-1 10, Howard 6-6 2-4 14, Battie 1-1 1-2 3, Stevenson 2-8 0-0 4, Francis 9-15 2-4 20, Outlaw 5-5 0-0 10, Turkoglu 4-8 3-4 11, Cato 1-3 4-6 6, Nelson 2-7 5-6 9, Morris 3-8 0-0 6, Garrity 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 37-69 18-27 93. Three-Point Goals - Maccabi 7-17 (Sharp 3-5, Parker 2-2, Solomon 2-5, Penney 0-1, Vujcic 0-2, Burstein 0-2), Orlando 1-4 (G.Hill 1-1, Nelson 0-3). Fouled Out - Baston. Rebounds - Maccabi 36 (Vujcic 7), Orlando 56 (Stevenson 9). Assists - Maccabi 16 (Vujcic 5), Orlando 18 (Francis 8). Total Fouls - Maccabi 24, Orlando 26. A - 12 514.