Maccabi started the game with aggressive attacks and quickly led 9-2 after 2.5 minutes of sporting good defense that stopped the hosts. Malaga quickly settled down with a 7-0 responsive run, leveling the score at 9-9. Katash realized that his defense was penetrable and brought on Batista and Morris to stop the Spaniards.

Macabbi’s game did not improve and their attacking play looked problematic. The Spaniards, led by Haislip (12 points in the first quarter) continued to score. Bynum scored in the last seconds of the quarter after some long dry minutes in which Maccabi did not score at all. Malaga led 21-16 after the first ten minutes.

The second quarter started with Batista digging in under the Spanish basket. The Uruguayan actually did score but Malaga replied with 7 consecutive points. The Spaniards built a double-digit lead after 3 minutes into the quarter, 28-18. Katash called for a timeout and was rewarded with a basket-foul from Bynum. Maccabi closed the gap to 6 but Gabriel with a three on the opposite side, did not let Maccabi return and half way into the quarter a double digit Spanish lead was once again on the scoreboard at 32-22.

The Spaniards slowed a little toward the break. Maccabi built some momentum with Fizer scoring twice, Sharp and Cummings scoring too. Maccabi slowly closed the gap when Cabezas led the last attack in the half, scoring above Morris to put an 11 point Spanish lead on the scoreboard at half time 45-36.

Garcia scored a two for Maccabi at the start of the second half. Santiago replied with a basket of his own and free throw point. Maccabi, with Bynum-Fizer combinations, added 4 consecutive points.
Malaga playing onto Santiago, who did not produce the goods in the first half and who irritated Fizer consistently until the latter lost his composure and was benched after an offensive foul. Maccabi’s momentum slowed to a stand with Malaga taking advantage of this weakness to produce a 8-0 run, 5 minutes to the end of the quarter. The Spaniards led 58-42 at the buzzer

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Katash, desperate for a solution, sent on Cummings and Caspi and was rewarded with 4 points from the duo. Caspi scored another important basket to close some of the gap, but Maccabi again slacked, could not control the defensive rebound and allowed N’Dong to force a foul and score two from the line, 63-50 to Malaga, 2 minutes to the quarter. Maccabi did not surrender and fought back strongly. Bynum took charge of the last ball, forced a foul and scored two from the line, leaving Maccabi at a reachable target of 8 points to level the score, 65-57 at the buzzer.

Bynum penetrated the Spanish defense and scored a two but Cabezas in reply, shot a three, putting and end to any hopes with the scoreboard tallying at 83-66 in favor of the Spaniards, three and a half minutes to the final buzzer. The rest of the game became unimportant with Malaga continuing with a show for the crowd. The final crushing score: 93-70.

Maccabi: Fizer 15, Bynum 14 (4 assists), Batista 9 (6 rebounds), Blumenthal 8, Caspi 7, Cummings 7, Halperin 4, Sharp 2, Garcia 2 , Morris 2.

Malaga: Cabezas 21, Haislip 19, Gabriel 16, N’dong 14, Welsch 11, Rodriguez 10, Santiago 2.