Maccabi is in the Euroleague finals! After a big deficit in the first half and a so-so offensive game, the Yellows came back led by Garcia and Sharp to win 92-85 over Montepaschi and go back to the finals after one year break The first minutes weren’t easy for Maccabi. Montepaschi made a 0-8 run and soon took a 4-13 lead resulting a Maccabi time out with three minutes to play in the first quarter. Tal Burstein came in to break the ice but Maccabi was still playing under pressure, made turnover after turnover and saw Montepaschi lead 8-20 after ten minutes.

Maccabi started the second quarter with another turnover while Terrell McIntyre hit another three pointer to make it 12-27. The only bright light in Maccabi was Lior Eliyahu, who came off the bench for quick eight points without a miss, and kept Maccabi in a reasonable margin behind, 22-36. Derrick Sharp nailed twice from long range to bring it back to just 10, 28-38 but McIntyre hit his fourth three pointer in the half and gave his team a 12 point lead at half time, 33-45.

Alex Garcia showed what’s about to come early in the second half when his slash to the rim cut the difference again to 10. McIntyre and Thornton made it a 15 point game again, while Sharp and Terence Morris missed their chances to make a change. Towards the end of the quarter came out of nowhere Sharp and sank twice from long range again to make it just an eight point game, 49-57.

Another three pointer by Bluthenthal made it just a six point game, but Montepaschi climbed back to 10. Vujcic, in his only basket in the game, started the Maccabi run, followed by two foul shots by Sharp and a big three pointer of Garcia with the buzzer to make it 61-64 entering the last quarter. Bluthenthal hit again from long range to tie the score and following was Will Bynum who put Maccabi on top for the first time in the game. Yotam Halperin hit from long range as well but McIntyre and Thornton kept Montepaschi alive. Ksystof Lavrinovic tied at 78-78 with two minutes to play but a big three point play by Bynum, followed with a great alley-hoop pass to Morris sent Maccabi on a five point lead, and after two more hits it turned into a 9-0 deciding run that secured the win.

Maccabi: Garcia 19, Sharp 15, Bynum 13, Morris 13, Bluthenthal 11, Halperin 9, Eliyahu 8, Batista 2, Vujcic 2 Montepaschi: McIntyre 26, Sato 17, Lavrinovic 17, Ilievski 5, Stonerook 5, Diener 3, Eze 2