Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
On Thursday: Maccabi opens the EuroLeague season at home
The yellows host Partizan Belgrade (9 PM local, 2 PM ET) and will be without guard Wade Baldwin. Coach Kattash: "We missed the atmosphere in Menora"
The wait is over. The stage is set. The 2023/24 EuroLeague opening night is upon us. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv will start its season in front of a packed Yad Eliyahu arena, when they pay host to Partizan Belgrade on Thursday (9 PM local, 2 PM ET).
The Israeli champs will have to do without star guard Wade Baldwin, who injured his back earlier this week. Conversely, center Josh Nebo, who also hurt his foot on Sunday in the Winner Cup finals, participated in the ultimate practice session ahead of the game. Assistant coach Josep Maria Berrocal, who lost his father and traveled to Spain earlier in the week, is expected to arrive back in time for the game.
Partizan lost some of their key players over the summer, including dominant center Mathias Lessort and 2023 EuroLeague Rising Star Yam Madar. In turn, Zeljko Obradovic reinforced his team with Polish small forward Mateusz Ponitka alongside P.J. Dozier and Frank Kaminsky who will be making their EuroLeague debuts after several years in the NBA. The Serbs will be led once again by guard Kevin Punter, who was one of the competion’s leading scorers with 16.1 points per game.
Both teams had strikingly similar seasons last year. Both finished with a 20:14 regular season record, and both lost their respective quarter-finals series with 2:3 defeats – Maccabi lost to Monaco whil Partizan lost to eventual champions Real Madrid.
“We are really excited to start a new EuroLeague season”, said head coach Oded Kattash, “Every year it becomes more challenging and the quality goes up, and I really like it. We missed the atmosphere of Thursday nights in Menora”.
Team captain John DiBartolomeo added: “I think continuity is important, we kept a core group of guys – something we felt we can build around. It’s good to go into a season with continuity. Then again, the things we accomplished last season are last season. Just because we won games last season doesn’t start us off any better this season”.
“Being with Maccabi, everybody knows the expectations, no matter the league”, concluded Bonzie Colson, “Win, make the playoffs, play hard. So obviously getting a taste, being close to being in the final four last season gives us that hunger and motivation. We got to take it game by game and get better every day like we’ve been doing”.
Showtime: Maccabi dominates Partizan in season opener
The yellows ran away with a 96:81 victory in a packed Menora, led by a stellar Lorenzo Brown performance. On Sunday: Kiryat Ata at home
What a way to start the new season! 11 thousand fans packed Menora Mivtachim Arena on Thursday evening for the EuroLeague season opener, and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv delivered with a stellar performance – and a win. Led by Lorenzo Brown, the yellows defeated Partizan Belgrade 96:81.
With the injured Wade Baldwin sitting out, Brown took it upon himself to carry the load. The veteran point guard had an immense first half, scoring all of his 22 points and dishes 6 out of his total 8.
But it was a total team effort, with great defensive possessions and high-level execution on offense. Oded Kattash’s men led for the majority of the game and at one point had a 24-point cushion. Josh Nebo and Roman Sorkin each contributed 14 points, Bonzie Colson had 12, Jasiel Rivero finished a great debut with 11 and Tamir Blatt scored 8 while assisting additional 8 times.
Now, Maccabi will look to build on the momentum when they begin their journey to defend the Israeli crown with a home game against Ironi Kiryat Ata. Next up in the EuroLeague is a trip to Milano next Thursday.
