The locals imposed their will from the beginning forcing Coach Neven Spahija’s squad to its sixth loss in the EuroLeague
Coach Spahija’s starting five: Wilbekin, Roll, Kane, Caloiaro and Black. Black was the first to score in the game as Spahija’s squad took the early 0:4 lead. The locals completed an 8:0 run to take the 8:4 lead. Gran Canaria increased their lead to 14:6 but Scottie reacted from downtown, O’Bryant and Tyus scored six points for Maccabi as they trimmed Gran Canaria’s lead to 17:15. The locals managed to finish the first quarter strong having the 23:15 lead.
Eriksson increased Gran Canaria’s lead to 26:15 at the beginning of the second quarter. Tyus connected with Wilbekin for a dunk but Eriksson scored from deep again (29:17). Kane scored a three pointer but Oliver reacted right away as the locals maintained their lead (34:22). Caloiaro and Tyus completed a 5:0 run as Coach Maldonado called for a timeout with the scoreboard showing 34:27. Maccabi hustled their way back into the game as they stayed close to the hosts (40:36) with just over two minutes remaining in the first half. Neither one of the teams really managed to impose their will till the end of the second quarter with Spahija’s squad trailing 43:38.
Caloiaro made both of his free throws at the beginning of the third quarter (43:40) however Gran Canaria reacted to Keep Maccabi at bay (51:42). Kane’s three pointer kept Maccabi in the game (53:47), but Gran Canaria managed to capitalize again enroute of a 61:49 lead forcing Coach Spahija to call for a timeout. Roll found Tyus for a dunk but the locals reacted again to make it 65:57 at the end of the third quarter.
Roll and Kane started the fourth with back to back threes to trim Gran Canaria’s lead to 65:63. John-Di found Tyus for an easy dunk as Maccabi tied the game forcing Gran Canaria to call for a timeout. Wilbekin scored from deep to give Maccabi the 65:68 lead, Balvin sparked a 7:0 run for the locals who took the 72:68 lead. Gran Canaria increased their lead to 78:72 forcing Coach Spahija to call for a timeout. Baez and Pasecniks made it 82:74 from which Spahija’s squad couldn’t recover as Herbalife Gran Canaria claims the 84:78 win.
