Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv opens a double EuroLeague week knowing that a Tuesday win over CSKA Moscow in Menora Mivtachim Arena (21:05, Live on Sport5 - Channel 55) can light a fire in their late playoff push. After three consecutive EuroLeague losses, the Yellow & Blue hold a 10:14 record with ten games remaining as Giannis Sfairopoulos's squad understands that every game going is a battle. 

The still reigning EuroLeague champions come to Tel Aviv ranked second in the standings with 17 wins and 8 losses. EuroLeague's top scorer, Mike James, leads Dimitris Itoudis's group with 20.5 points per game as the Greek coach has many different options to work with. Tornike Shengelia, Iffe Lundberg, Daniel Hackett, Darrun Hilliard, Will Clyburn, Johannes Voigtmann, Micahel Eric, Nikita Kurbanov, and Joel Bolomboy round up a well balanced Russian squad.



"CSKA has always been a primary candidate for the Final Four, and this year they have the least amount of losses with Barcelona, which shows their quality and experience scoring the most points per game", Said head coach Giannis Sfairopoulos about Tuesday's opponent. "We'll need to play well defensively, control the game's rhythm, and not let them play their style of basketball. Additionally, we'll need to execute well offensively. Once again, we are delighted to have 300 supporting fans in the stands, and we are anxious to see them again fighting with us for this win".

The playoff hopes as we advance: "As much as we get closer to the end of the season, it will become tougher. We will do our best because we are Maccabi, we have difficult games, especially here at our home court, and winning on the road isn't easy. This EuroLeague season is the most competitive one in the past years, but we will fight, we won't give up, and continue one game at a time".



"It's been a challenging season because of Covid-19, and everything is much tougher not just around basketball but in your day-to-day life", Explained Maccabi's big man Ante Zizic. "CSKA has been doing a great job this season, playing really good on both ends of the court, and it will be a tough game, but I don't know how different it will be from the last matchup. The 300 fans, even though it is not that many, it means a lot to us. I'm looking forward to seeing Maccabi fans in EuroLeague games.

Omri Casspi, who returned to the court last week, spoke about the Russian opponent and the playoff hunt situation: "Moscow has players who can create damage, and that is what makes them one of the best teams in the EuroLeague. We believe we can clinch even though we see the teams ahead of us in the standings and understand it won't be easy. But we still have a chance, we are Maccabi Tel Aviv, and we want to respect ourselves and the club we represent. Miracles occurred here in the past, so we want to build a good momentum and see what happens".

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv playoff hopes took a hit on Tuesday with the 80:84 defeat to CSKA Moscow, which dropped their EuroLeague season record to 10:15. The game wasn't far from ending in a magical comeback after the Yellow & Blue deleted a 22 point Russian lead in front of 300 fans who got to watch their first EuroLeague contest in over a year.

The Israeli champions had difficulty dealing with the Reds athleticism and capabilities, but Maccabi never gave up and showed their fighting mentality in the final quarter. Tyler Dorsey led the scorers with 20 points, and Othello Hunter performed a double-double scoring 14 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. 



Game Recap:

Maccabi opened the contest with Scottie Wilbekin, Elijah Bryant, Angelo Caloiaro, Dragan Bender, and Ante Zizic, while CSKA started with Mike James, Darrun Hilliard, Nikita Kurbanov, Tornike Shengelia, and Joel Bolomboy.

Bender knocked down a three-pointer for the first points of the game, and Omri Casspi floated in two after coming off the bench, but Hilliard responded on the other end with three shots from behind the arc, 10:12. Casspi's high energy generated six first-quarter points as Oz Blayzer dished an assist to Tyler Dorsey, who drilled a corner triple while Will Clyburn and Michael Eric tied the contest at 23 after 10 minutes.

A Blayzer steal led to a Chris Jones layup, and the American guard located Dorsey, who shot in a triple, but James and Eric Reid scored inside, giving CSKA a one-point edge. The Yellow & Blue turned the ball over, and the Russians took advantage as Clyburn scored eight consecutive points in a 16:0 stretch, 28:45. 



After five scoreless minutes, Wilbekin hit a three-pointer, and Othello Hunter converted two from the free-throw line, but James knocked down six straight points to close out the first half, 33:51.

Dorsey converted a three-point possession and added a shot from behind the arc to open up the second half, but the visitors took advantage of four quick fouls scoring from the free-throw line, 45:61. 

The Russians held a night-high 22 point advantage, but the hosts started their comeback attempt as Bryant drilled a triple, and Sandy Cohen passed an alley-oop pass to Hunter, who slammed it down, giving the Yellow & Blue hope heading into the final ten minutes, 52:68.

 

The fourth quarter started well for Maccabi as Hunter scored four consecutive points, and Jones dished back-to-back assists to Bryant and Caloiaro for a 9:3 run which led to a Dimitris Itoudis timeout 61:71. Sandy cohen drilled a three-pointer diminishing the Reds margin down to 6, but Clyburn, with two straight post moves, retrieved the edge up to 10.

Hunter converted his 8th straight free throw, Dorsey knocked down a shot from deep, and Sandy Cohen completed a 7:0 run cutting CSKA's edge down to 3, 75:78. Hilliard hit a crucial three, but Dorsey responded from deep, reducing the margin down to 2 with 13 seconds left, 80:82.

The Yellow & Blue fouled Shengelia hoping that the big man will miss at least one of the free throws, but the Georgian converted both shots and the time ran out for the hosts. CSKA beats Maccabi 84:80.