In the final game of the regular season, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Unicaja Malaga 81-73 at Nokia Arena. Smith led all scorers with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. Pargo contributed 16 points, and Randle added 10 points.
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By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv wrapped up the regular season with an 81-73 victory over Unicaja Malaga at Nokia Arena. Devin Smith was phenomenal with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. Jeremy Pargo also played an excellent game, with 16 points, and Brian Randle contributed 10 points.
Maccabi’s starters were Alex Tyus, Devin Smith, Yogev Ohayon, Brian Randle, and Jeremy Pargo. Maccabi was on fire as the game got underway, running to 14-0 thanks to points by Randle (dunk on tipoff, fast break layup, another dunk), Smith (threes from right corner and top of the arc, plus a slam), and a layup by Pargo in the first four minutes. Malaga finally started scoring after four and a half minutes and closed to within three, 21-18, but MarQuez Haynes and Sofo Schortsanitis protected Maccabi’s lead and the period ended with the hosts leading 26-20.
The second quarter also started with quick points for Maccabi, but the visitors managed to cut their deficit to only one, 30-29 after three and a half minutes. Maccabi had trouble finding the basket, and Malaga was able to briefly claim the lead. A Pargolicious 360 reverse layup tied the score at 34 and Ohayon added five points (including a trey off an assist by Nate Linhart). The half ended with Maccabi holding on to a 41-37 lead.
It didn’t take Malaga long to claim a 45-43 lead in the third quarter, and the advantage traded hands several times before Maccabi opened up a 51-45 lead after four and a half minutes on points by Pargo and Smith. A bucket and one by Pargo and a dunk by Smith off a steal by Randle opened the game up to 56-47 with just under four minutes left in the period. The visitors were able to close to three, 56-53, but the period ended with Maccabi up 58-54.
The Spaniards once again closed the gap to three, but points from downtown by Sylven Landesberg and another dazzling basket by Pargo made it 65-57 after three and a half minutes. Five points by Stefansson gave Malaga new life, but a coast to coat drive by Haynes, an emphatic dunk by Pargo, and two straight triples by the ever reliable Smith sealed the deal, and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Unicaja Malaga 81-73.
