Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 
Baskonia Vitoria Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Baskonia Vitoria
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
On Thursday: Maccabi and Baskonia clash in a crucial battle for playoffs
The Yellows will host a direct competitor for the top 8, hoping to make a significant step toward securing a playoff ticket. Kattash: "I took the defeat against them in Vitoria personally"
The Spaniards, direct competitors of Maccabi for a playoff spot, hold a 15:13 record similar to Oded Kattash’s team. Baskonia has the best offense in the Euroleague, a fact that Maccabi players remember well after losing to the Basques by 30 in the first round.
“It was the worst game we played this season. I took that result personally, and I hope the players feel this way too”, said Kattash. “They play with an incredible pace offensively, and we must be fully focused on defense for 40 minutes.”
“As the season advances, every game becomes much more critical,” the Yellows coach added. “winning against an in-form direct competitor for top 8 would be incredible.”
Bonzie Colson repeated Kattash’s message. “What Baskonia did to us on the road was wrong,” stated the talented forward. “They have a high pace offense and a unique playing style, making them tough to guard. It will be a challenge, but I think our defense has significantly improved since we played them on the road”.
Maccabi beats Baskonia 93:79, closes in on Euroleague top 8 ticket
The Yellows took revenge on the Basques and made a big step toward securing a playoff ticket. Baldwin shined with 24 points. Nebo scored 15 with 14 boards
Yesterday Oded Kattash spoke about the impact the loss in Vitoria in the last round had on him. His players must have felt the same way, as they played with passion and heart this evening. The fans did their part, providing their team an electric atmosphere that helped Maccabi race to a 14-point lead in the first half (29:43).
Although Baskonia quickly caught up and took a 58-49 lead in the middle of the third quarter, the hosts had no intention of surrendering. The defense improved dramatically, and Wade Baldwin (24 points, 8 assists), an ex-Baskonia player, led the Yellows to another turnaround, putting the game away. Josh Nebo (15 points and 14 rebounds) and Lorenzo Brown (17 points) also contributed to Maccabi’s efforts during the more challenging stretches of the game, resulting in a final score of 93-79.
The Yellows will face Villeurbanne next (Thursday), hoping to carry this great momentum even further and meet one of their primary goals set this summer.
