In an exciting, fast-paced game marking the start of the second half of the Euroleague Top 16, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul 97-81. Pnini (17 points) was named game MVP.
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv started off the second half of the Top 16 with a 97-81 home victory over Galatasaray Liv Hospital, and improved their record to 6-2. Team captain Guy Pnini scored 17 points (5 of 5 from three point range); David Blu added 16 points and Ricky Hickman (7 assists) and Tyrese Rice (5 assists) did a great job running the offense and contributed 12 points each.
Maccabi’s starters were Guy Pnini, Devin Smith, Ricky Hickman, Joe Ingles, and Sofo Schortsanitis. Pnini kicked things off with two three pointers, but Galatasaray and Milan Macvan responded. After two and a half minutes the score stood at 8-5, Maccabi. Halfway through the period the lead was in the Turkish team’s hands, 15-10, but points by Alex Tyus and a steal + dunk by Hickman put Maccabi within one. Hairston reopened the lead for the visitors, but a two handed slam by Tyus and a baseline jumper from David Blu made it 21-20 Maccabi with two minutes on the clock. A free throw tied the score, then Tyrese Rice fed Tyus an oop in traffic, but Galatasaray tied the score at 23 as time ran out.
Galatasaray reclaimed the lead early in the second quarter, but Sofo tied things up with a bucket and one and Blu scored twice from downtown to make it 32-30 halfway through the period. Andrija ?i?i?, Smith and Pnini scored to extend the lead to 40-34, and Rice added a three from the right wing. Arroyo tried to get Galatasaray back into the game, but Blu added his third trey and Hickman scored from the foul line and in the paint to send the teams into the break with Maccabi leading 49-38.
Maccabi came out on fire in the third quarter, with Smith and Hickman scoring and the defense breaking up plays and getting stops against the visitors. Pnini scored again from the top of the arc, Ingles added a reverse layup and one, and Smith, Rice and Sofo all scored to give Maccabi their biggest lead of the game, 67-42 halfway through the period. Galatasaray responded with an 8-0 scoring run that changed the momentum of the game, and the period ended with Maccabi up by fourteen, 70-56.
The fourth quarter started with triples from Rice and Pnini, but Galatasaray responded with six straight points. A three by Blu on the right wing made it 79-62 three minutes into the period. The visitors continued to battle and had pulled within ten with five minutes left in the game, but Rice scored from downtown (assist Blu) and Sofo added two big buckets in the paint to make it 89-74. Maccabi’s defense closed down Galatasaray for the most part, while Pnini added one last three and Hickman soon followed suit. The Turks had no chance to catch up, and the game ended in a 97-81 victory for Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv over Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul.
