Before the game, one of the talking points was around Efes’s absences, but the Turks appeared with a full roster. That didn’t help them against a spirited Maccabi. From the get-go, it was all yellow in Sinan Erdem Sports Hall, with a shocking first half by any standard.

Kattash’s players charged over their opponents. Led by Wade Baldwin (23 points) and Josh Nebo (10 and 11 rebounds), they led 54:33 after 20 minutes. The team’s defense worked, three-point percentages rocketed, and a Turkish comeback in the fourth was held off thanks to Lorenzo Brown’s composure with six straight points.

“Our game plan worked today, no doubt. The players deserve all the credit for executing it perfectly,” said Kattsh, who now has the cards in the fight for playoffs. “We can draw a lot of confidence from how we played this week. We showed character. But we still have a lot of work. Nothing is over”.

“We came out on fire,” Wade Baldwin added. “It was a fun first half, and we found a way to finish out the game even when they attempted to come back. Wins on the road don’t come around this often this season, so we’re happy to get this one”.