Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv outlasted Ironi Nes Ziona 99-91 in a close game at Nokia Arena, thanks in part to a great game by Ingles (22 points). Tyus and Rice added 19 points each.
By Amy Samin
In week 14 of the Israeli Winner Sal League, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv came back from a 13 point deficit in the third quarter, and largely thanks to 22 second half points by Joe Ingles, defeated Ironi Nes Ziona at Nokia Arena, 99-91 (their sixteenth straight victory). Tyrese Rice and Alex Tyus (9 rebounds) added 19 points each. Ricky Hickman contributed 14 points and 5 assists, and Yogev Ohayon scored 10 points and made 7 assists.
Maccabi’s starters were team captain Shawn James, Devin Smith, Ricky Hickman, Guy Pnini and Yogev Ohayon. Maccabi jumped to 7-2 after two and a half minutes thanks to points from James, Smith and Ohayon. The Israeli point guard continued to contribute, with a steal and more points that made it 12-5 Maccabi at the halfway mark. Nes Ziona closed to within one, but triples from David Blu and Hickman gave Maccabi some breathing room. The period ended with the hosts leading 25-20.
A three pointer by Blu and a dunk by Tyus (assist Blu) put Maccabi’s lead in double figures less than a minute into the second quarter. The visitors responded with a 7-0 scoring run that put them on top, 34-33 just past the halfway mark. Maccabi reclaimed the lead briefly, but the second half of the period was dominated by Nes Ziona, who went on another run and ended the period in the lead, 47-39.
This time it was the visitors who grabbed a double digit lead in the early seconds of the quarter, until points by Hickman and a steal (Ohayon) plus dunk (Blu) put Maccabi within seven, 52-45. The home team couldn’t put together more than a pair of baskets at a time, while the visitors did likewise and preserved their lead. Halfway through the period Hickman scored to make it 58-50, but Nes Ziona once again extended their advantage to double figures. Tyus and Joe Ingles combined for thirteen points in the final minutes of the period, which ended with Maccabi trailing 71-63.
Maccabi came out on fire in the fourth quarter, closing to within two off points by Rice and Ingles (with a slick behind the back assist from Hickman on Ingles’ second bucket), 71-69. Nes Ziona opened things back up, but Rice and Ingles tied the score at 76 with six and a half minutes left in the game. A steal by Ohayon and a putback slam by Tyus put Maccabi on top, 78-76, and Rice extended that with a triple. Tapiro and Nes Ziona fought their way back to tie things up at 83 with four minutes to go, but Ingles scored eight points over the next few minutes, giving Maccabi a 92-87 lead with a minute and a half in the clock. A one handed slam by Tyus and multiple trips to the foul line for Rice wrapped things up, as Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Ironi Nes Ziona 99-91.
