Maccabi loses 80:73 to Zalgiris on the road

Coach Sfairopoulos’ starting five: Wilbekin, Kane, Caloiaro, O’Bryantand Black. Davies was the first to score but Maccabi reacted with a 5:0 run to take the 2:5 lead. Davies and Ulanovas gave the lead to Zalgiris but it was short lived as Johnny and Scottie answered with six points (7:11). Walton Jr. and Jokubaitis increased gave the 16:13 lead to the hosts but Scottie managed to beat the buzzer to tie the game at the end of the first quarter (16:16).

Both teams traded blows at the beginning of the second quarter with Zalgiris being the ones to capitalize (27:22). Milaknis increased Zalgiris’ lead from the free throw line but Scottie reacted from deep (29:25). Zalgiris completed a 7:0 run as they increased their lead to 36:25 with just over two minutes remaining in the second quarter. Maccabi finished the second quarter on a high note with Scottie beating the buzzer for the second time to trim Zalgiris’ lead to 39:33 at halftime.

Davies and Walkup scored at the beginning of the third quarter as the locals’ increased their lead to 43:33. Kane scored from deep but the hosts managed to keep their double digit lead (51:38) forcing coach Sfairopoulos to call for a timeout. Kane and Scottie scored five unanswered points forcing coach Saras to call for a timeout (56:47). Milaknis scored from deep but the squad in yellow and blue finished the third quarter on a high note trimming Zalgiris’ lead to 59:53.

Tyus scored at the beginning of the fourth but Westermann and Milaknis capitalized for Zalgiris who took the 65:57 lead. White and Westermann completed a 5:0 run for Zalgiris forcing coach Sfairopoulos to call for a timeout with the scoreboard showing 73:62. Roll’s three pointer made it 74:67 but Westermann found his rhythm from distance giving Zalgiris the 77:67 lead with just over a minute remaining in the game. Roll tried to keep Maccabi in the game as he scored again from deep but the locals kept their composure as they took the 80:73 win.