Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv is close to putting a lock on third place in Group F in the Euroleague Top 16 following a key home victory, 77-67, over Zalgiris Kaunas. Rice, who was outstanding with 19 points and 6 assists, was named game MVP. Hickman contributed 14 points.
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Zalgiris Kaunas 77-67 at Nokia Arena in week 10 of the Euroleague Top 16, and is now only one game shy of securing the number three spot in Group F. Tyrese Rice, 19 points and 6 assists, was named MVP of the game. Ricky Hickman added 14 points, Guy Pnini contributed 11 points, and Sofo Schortsanitis added 10 points.
Starters for Maccabi were Sofo Schortsanitis, Guy Pnini, Ricky Hickman, Devin Smith, and Yogev Ohayon. Sofo and Ohayon took Maccabi to an early 7-3 lead that included a steal + layup by the Greek center. Javtokas and Dentmon scored for the visitors to take the lead from Maccabi, 14-12 halfway through the period. Tyrese Rice and Joe Ingles (4 straight points) scored as the period ended, tying the score at 20.
The lead changed hands several times as the second quarter got underway, with Hickman scoring twice to put Maccabi up 27-25 after four minutes. Rice made a nice drive in the paint and David Blu scored twice from downtown to send the teams into the break with Maccabi leading 40-33.
Maccabi came out strong on both ends of the court, with a trey by Smith in the left corner and a nice dish by Sofo to Rice for the layup on one end, and tough defense on the other end that held the visitors scoreless for the first five minutes, until a free throw by Dentmon made it 47-34. Despite a technical on the Zalgiris coach, the visitors managed to whittle Maccabi’s lead down to single digits with two minutes left in the period, 54-45. A triple by Pnini from the top of the arc put Maccabi’s lead back at ten as the period ended, 57-47.
The fourth quarter got started with a three by Pnini from the right corner, and Hickman followed suit from the opposite corner soon after. Rice grabbed a steal and passed to Ingles, who dished to Hickman for the slam, making it 65-52 after four minutes. Zalgiris managed to close to within six, 67-61 with three minutes left in the game, but Rice with points from downtown and a bucket and 1 helped wrap things up, and the game ended in a 77-67 victory for Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv over Zalgiris Kaunas.
