Zalgiris – Maccabi Tel Aviv 78-94: Nanali breaks the stats

Tenth win in 21 games for Maccabi, who confirmed the title of Kaunas favorite, defeated Zalgiris 94-78 to return to the octave lane in the regular season. The Tel Aviv team didn’t have patient Giannis Sfeiropoulos on their bench, but they did have Scotty Wilbekin in excellent condition and James Nanali in incredible condition.

The first finished the match with 20 points from just nine shots and shared six assists, the second stopped at 32 (6/7 two points, 6/7 three points, 2/2 shots) at 34:25. On the other hand, Yuri Zdovch saw Marek Blazevic record 20 and do a great job on the racquet, he saw the Lekavitsi – Cavanaugh follow him, but beyond that the absences of Manta Kalnietis – Josh Nibo were too serious for insiders cover up. At 3:17 Zalgiris remains last.

Impressive first part for both teams with Blazevic, Lekavitsios, Cavano having 33 of the 47 points of Zalgiris who finished the 20th minute with 60% in two points, 42% in three points and 100% in shots. At the same time, Maccabi relied on Nanali (17 points, 3/3 two points, 3/3 three points, 2/2 shots), had 62% on two points, 75% on three points and 14 assists and five errors.

In the second half, the visitors increased the intensity of their defence, held the hosts on 13 points in the third period, took a narrow lead and pressed on the accelerator in the fourth to evade the goal and confidently go into the lead.

THE REFEREES: Ierethuelo, Bisang, Peradi

THE TEN MINUTES: 19-21, 47-47, 60-64, 74-98

ZALGIRIS (Zdovts): Webster, Blazevic 20 (7/11 two points, 6/6 shots), Lekavitsius 16 (4/6 two points, 2/5 three points, 2/2 shots, 9 assists), Miniotas 2, Luciusiounas 9 (3) , Milaknis 5 (1/6 three points), Strelnieks, Cavanaugh 16 (5/6 two points, 2/3 three points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists), Gifai, Lovern, Ulanovas 10 93/10 shots, 4 /4 shots, 6 rebounds, 3 assists)

MACABI (Levi): Wilbekin 20 (1/2 two points, 5/7 three points, 3/3 shots, 3 rebounds, 6 assists), Evans 10 (1 three points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists), Caleiro 5 (1) , Williams 9 (1), Reynolds 2 (1/6 two points, 5 rebounds), Sorkin, Dibartolomeo 3, Thomas, Blazer, Nanali 32 (6/7 two points, 6/7 three points, 2/2 shots), Zizic 13 (5/7 two points, 3/5 three points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists)

Zalgiris Kaunas team statistics: 21/38 two points, 8/26 three points, 12/12 shots, 25 rebounds (13 defensive – 12 offensive), 21 assists, 5 steals, 5 errors

Maccabi Tel Aviv team statistics: 17/29 two points, 14/20 three points, 18/21 shots, 29 rebounds (23 defensive – 6 offensive), 20 assists, 4 steals, 4 blocks, 10 errors

The next games of the two teams: In the 25th game, Zalgiris hosts Unics Kazan (4/2 at 20:00), while Maccabi continues in Munich to play against Bayern (3/2 at 21:30).