The 2020/21 EuroLeague season comes to an end on Friday night as Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv head out on the road to face Zenit St Petersburg (20:00, Live on Sport5 - Channel 55). The Israeli champions look to finish the European regular season on a good note with a second straight victory over a Russian squad after dominating Khimki 92:62 on Tuesday night in Menora Mivtachim Arena. 

Xabi Pascual's group, who sits in 8th place, holds their own fortune for the last playoff spot as a win will secure a EuroLeague playoff run, while a loss will put their fate in Real Madrid and Baskonia's hands. Omri Casspi will continue his recovery as Maccabi will get T.J Cline back to the roster after missing out on the Khimki game after not being registered to the squad on the original date.

In Round 17, Zenit beat Maccabi 78:72 at Menora Mivtachim Arena as Scottie Wilbekin's 18 points couldn't quite get the victory. In the only meeting between the squads in Russia, Giannis Sfairopoulos's squad defeated the light blue's 82:71 behind a 17 point performance by Tyler Dorsey. 



"We are facing a team that is still in the thick of qualifying to the playoffs, so they will be very motivated", Said head coach Giannis Sfairopoulos, about the second-ranked defense in the competition. "It will be our last EuroLeague game of the season, and for that, we want to play the best we can. We know we are up against a quality opponent that all season long played really well, and we expect a good game".

"It's a chance for us to come out on a positive note as they are fighting for a playoff spot, so they will come hungry and ready to play", Added Elijah Bryant, who had 10 points and 5 rebounds in the last matchup in Tel Aviv. "We know our chances, we are excited to go out there for one last time and finish strong".

Dragan Bender spoke towards the last European trip of the season: "It's definitely a tough road game at their home court, they are a stacked team with a lot of good players. It's the last game of the EuroLeague season, so we are going out there to fight and prove we are fighting until the end".

---

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv hoped to conclude the EuroLeague season on a better note, but Giannis Sfairopoulos's squad suffered a 69:86 road defeat to Zenit St Petersburg in a game that didn't go as planned, finishing the European campaign in 13th place with 14 wins and 20 losses. On Monday, the Yellow & Blue return to the Israeli Winner League facing Hapoel Jerusalem in the capital. 

Angelo Caloiaro didn't make the trip to Russia following his newborn girl's birth, as Othello Hunter returned to action for the first time since March 18th, playing 19 minutes contributing 3 points and 4 rebounds. Tyler Dorsey scored 15 points, Chris Jones added 11 points, while Scottie Wilbekin provided 9 points and 4 rebounds.   



Game Recap:

John DiBartolomeo, Scottie Wilbekin, Oz Blayzer, Dragan Bender, and Ante Zizic started for the Yellow & Blue as Kevin Pangos, Austin Hollins, Mateusz Ponitka, Will Thomas, and Tarik Black began for the hosts.

A Pangos deep triple highlighted a 7:2 Zenit start while on the other end, Blayzer scored a tough floater, and Elijah Bryant came off the bench connecting for 5 straight points, 11:14. 

Black closed the paint with 2 blocks, and with Hollins converted from the free-throw line ramping the margin to double digits, Tyler Dorsey and Chris Jones knocked down back-to-back buckets in the paint, but KC Rivers and Alex Poythress responded, keeping a 10 point advantage, 15:25.



Bender fought for an offensive board and finished two inside as Othello Hunter, who returned to the roster after sitting out the last couple of games, drilled a mid-range jumper and drew a foul resulting in one of two from the charity strike, 24:32. 

Dorsey converted a three-point play after scoring over Pangos, T.J Cline knocked down a shot from behind the arc, and Blayzer scored 5 straight points cutting the edge down to 6, but Dmitry Khvostov floated in the last points of the half, 37:44.

Zizic dunked for Maccabi to start the second half, but back-to-back Russian steals led to Hollins' easy points, which led to an early Giannis Sfairopoulos timeout. Wilbekin put the visitors on his back, scoring five points and distributing 2 assists, keeping the Yellow & Blue in the thick of things, 46:52. 



Ex Maccabi Black and Thomas worked their way inside, including a Ponitka steal that led to an easy Thomas slam resulting in a 14:2 run, gaining a night-high 18 point advantage heading into the final 10 minutes, 48:66.

Dorsey drilled back-to-back three-pointers, and Jones laid in two, but Pangos took control, dishing assists to Billy Baron and Andrey Zubkov while laying in two, keeping a comfortable 19 point margin, 56:75. Jones and Pangos exchanged buckets as Cline and Bryant passed by their defenders, finishing close to the basket, 67:82. Zenit completed an 86:69 home victory over Maccabi.

---