Maccabi Tel Aviv’s euroleague season started well at beautiful NOKIA arena with a win against Spanish champions Malaga 106-101 after overtime.
Maccabi played a magical first quarter. Jasaitis scored from outside, Bynum kept penetrating and Eliyahu proved he can play at the highest level: 34-16 after 10 minutes.
The second quarter was a different story. Malaga came back with a brilliant 17-0 run and the game was close until the end. Vujcic made it 90-88 to Maccabi from the line but Cabezas, playing the game of his life took Sharp to the basket and forced overtime: 90-90.
Bynum was in charge of the offense and Arnold won the game with two huge baskets from offensive rebounds, 106-101 to Maccabi at the final buzzer.
Maccabi’s scorers: Bynum 29, Arnold 17, Vujcic 14, Jasaitis 14, Sharp 13, Eliyahu 12, Halperin 7.