Exactly like on Thursday vs Cibona, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv lest it for third quarter to come into the Tel Aviv derby. From 39-39 at half time Maccabi scored 31 pts in the quarter to open a 70-55 lead and eventually won by 107-83.
Maccabi left out Baston & Penney and started very well to lead 18-6. Nikola Vujcic, already with 10 pts, was replaced and Arnold was taken off after hitting Gili Mosenzon and Hapoel Tel Aviv closed the margin to 21-16 at the end of the first quarter. Mosenzon gave Hapoel a 23-22 lead at the end of a 18-5 run and at the half 39-39. Then came the excellent third period. Maccabi opened the final period with full court pressure and within two and a half minute opened a 21 pts lead (81-60).
A huge game for Nikola Vujcic with 36 pts, 10 rbds & 5 assists that gave him an Index Rating of 50. Will Solomon scorred 23 pts (5-10 for three). Other Maccabi scorers: Parker 19, Sharp 12, Arnold 7, Green 4, Burstein 4, Shason 2.
Top scorers for Hapoel: Ernest Brown 20, Jerone Roberts 15, Mosenzon 13 points.