Barça received Maccabi at a delicate moment in their European season, after the painful defeat in the classic and after having conceded three defeats in their last four Euroleague games at the Palau. And things turned uphill for Jasikevicius' men after a third quarter of those to erase from memory. But the Barça team reactivated their defense in time in the last ten magnificent minutes, which clouded those from Tel Aviv and allowed them to add a victory that, before the equality that presides over the classification, is worth its weight in gold.
The Macabeo team stood up from the beginning, always comfortable at the Palau, despite the fact that Kattash was unable to use the injured Lorenzo Brown, his extension on the track. He commanded Barça but the income was very meager in a first quarter that he flew by, with just six fouls, in just a quarter of an hour. Already at that time a very erratic Mirotic was seen in the outside shot, who still finds it difficult to find his form, although he is always sacrificed and especially helping on the rebound. It was the triples, up to four in that first act for the Catalans, who kept Maccabi at bay and allowed Barça to lead the game.
Three very successful minutes, already in the second quarter, gave Jasikevicius' men the first opportunity to break the game. Always under the direction of Satoransky, the most reliable point guard so far for the Catalans, the locals stretched to 39-28 (minute 17) after a two plus one from the Czech point guard himself. But the Israeli team did not give up, always with choral performances, always dangerous wherever they go. Those in Tel Aviv responded immediately, led by the magic of Baldwin IV and the points of Adams. A triple from Hilliard just a few tenths before the horn signaled the break adjusted to 41-37 and left the swords high.
Maccabi stormed out of the locker room and signed a brilliant third act, increasing their account by up to 30 points. Some almost extraterrestrial percentages in the shot and the usual dose of showtime from Baldwin IV opened the wound until 57-67 almost touching the end of the fourth. Then the figure of Jokubaitis emerged to support his team, his figure was essential to explain the final triumph. Barça tightened the nuts a lot in defense in a magnificent last act, drying up Maccabi by 11 points, and turning the score around with an always reliable Higgins in decisive moments. Without time to breathe, the Palau opens again this Thursday to receive Bayern. With the scare still in the body, Jasikevicius' men are almost forced to finish dispelling doubts and confirm themselves at the top of the table.
83- Barça (20 21 21 21): Satoransky (9), Laprovittola (5), Kalinic (3), Mirotic (11), Vesely (10) -initial team- Da Silva (0), Sanli (3), Abrines (8), Higgins (15), Kuric (0), Jokubaitis (14) and Tobey (5).
78- Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (15 22 30 11): Adams (20), Baldwin (15), Colson (7), Martin (11), Nebo (1) -initial team-, Menco (-), Sorkin (7 ), Dibartolomeo (2), Hilliard (11) and Braimoh (4).
Árbitros: Milivoje Jovcic (SER), Anne Panther (ALE) y Mehdi Difallah (FRA). sin
Incidents: match of the twenty-second day of the Euroleague played at the Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona before 6,843 spectators.
