It was another banner week for Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Euroleague action as both Israeli teams picked up huge wins ahead of a critical double week just ahead of next Sunday’s derby.
Hapoel Tel Aviv got by Panathinaikos 92-88 as the Reds mounted a fourth-quarter comeback as Antonio Blakeney scored in bunches and Chris Jones hit four from the line with time winding down to sew up the win.
Dimitrios Itoudis’s team moved to 21-13 in Euroleague action and into fourth place with the victory as four games remain in the regular season.
Elijah Bryant and Vasilije Micic got the game off and running for Hapoel Tel Aviv, but Mathias Lessort, Kendrick Nunn and Kostas Sloukas countered for Panathinaikos to grab a slim 21-20 lead after 10 minutes. Blakney began to find the bottom of the basket while Bryant kept scoring, but Cedi Osman, Juancho Hernangomez and Nigel Hayes-Davis scored to keep Ergin Ataman’s Pana team in front 48-44 at halftime.
Hernangomez kept up his scoring as the third quarter began while Kenneth Faried, Sloukas and Nunn helped bumped up the lead to double-digits as Bryant tried to keep Itoudis’s squad in the game, but the Greens took a 75-66 lead after 30 minutes.
Blakeney and Tai Odiase quickly cut into the lead to start off the fourth quarter while Jones was money from the line down the stretch to break a 88-88 tie to give the Reds the lead for good.
Blakeney scored 19 points, Bryant added 18 points and Micic put in 14 points for Hapoel in the win while Hernangomez scored 17 points, Nunn checked in with 15 points and Sloukas scored 14 points for Panathinaikos in the loss.
“The players, the team, they deserve the credit,” Itoudis began. “We played against an amazing team. We were down by 12 in the third quarter, but we saw they were getting tired because they were missing a few key players and we felt we could do it. I can talk about strategies, but that’s not the story, the story is the players’ belief. After two games with poor defensive performances, we wanted to get back to ourselves and we did it in a big way. Tai Odiase is an example of a player who understood his role when he arrived but kept working hard and was there for us. Credit also goes to the players who didn’t play, they’re the reason we have high-level practices.”
Bryant also spoke about the win.
“We trusted each other. It’s a big win, but it’s only one game. We need to learn from this game, especially me as I had a few turnovers, and move forward.”
Blakeney added: “We knew this was a critical game for us. We faced a strong team and this game shows how good we can be. We needed to come in and execute the game plan and we did that.”
Maccabi Tel Aviv defeats Anadolu
Maccabi Tel Aviv, meanwhile, defeated Anadolu EFES 103-89 as Lonnie Walker starred in the victory to keep the yellow-and-blue in the Euroleague Play-In race.
With the win, Oded Katash’s team improved to 18-16 good for 11th place, just one victory out of the Play-In spot in 10th.
Brice Dessert, Jordan Loyd and Nick Weiler-Babb all scored to open up the game for Anadolu EFES while Jimmy Clark, Walker and Oshae Brissett responded for Maccabi Tel Aviv as the Turkish side took a 25-24 lead after the first frame.
Rodrigue Beaubois had the hot hand to begin the second quarter while Loyd also scored, but points from Marcio Santos, Jaylen Hoard and Walker gave Katash’s team a 49-44 lead at halftime.
Clark and Walker kept filling the basket with ease as the third quarter got underway while Roman Sorkin made his points count to put Maccabi up 78-64 after 30 minutes. Ercan Osmani and Sehmus Hazer tried to keep Pablo Laso’s team hanging around but baskets from Tamir Blatt, Brissett, Hoard and Walker closed out the victory.
Walker scored 25 points, Clark scored 17 points and Hoard added 16 points for Tel Aviv in the win while Loyd scored 17 points and Dessert put in 16 points for Anadolu in the loss.
Katash talked about the win for Maccabi.
“Even though we were up at halftime, we spoke about playing the right way with the right body language and we made that happen in the second half. I’m very proud of the guys. We feel good and we feel better as to how we have to win games. Even though our fans are at home and we are far from them, we are playing for them, but we will be home soon. We will take this win and do what we have been doing the past six weeks.”
Walker, the game’s MVP, discussed the victory.
“Our chemistry as a team is great, we can all be authentic, genuine and transparent. We are all working together as we have to be better collectively and individually. I was being aggressive as the past few games I was far from myself as teams were doubling me, so I had to adjust to that aspect and make winning plays. Even if the ball isn’t going into the hoop, I can make the right reads and passes and trusting my teammates. I felt good going into the third quarter and I was able to light it up. Even when we were 3-10 I knew we would be here, we are playing to the best of our abilities when we play Maccabi basketball and we are a dangerous team and everyone knows that.”
Hoard spoke about the keys to victory.
“Understanding the stakes for us and fighting for a Play-In spot, just coming out with a lot of energy, not just me but all of my teammates. Our chemistry and adversity together has been key after starting the season rough and all the experiences helped us to get to where we are now.”
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