Sorkin and Wilbekin combine for 38 points to help Maccabi defeat Hapoel for 2-0 lead / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Winner League Credit Winner League

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv 93-86 (24-18, 26-18, 21-29, 22-21) in a hard battle on the court to take a 2-0 lead in the Israeli league's quarterfinals series. Maccabi will try to close the series on Wednesday.

3-pointers this season

36%8,2Points made:8,2Accuracy:36,0%Place in standings:14Record max:16Record min:2Most made 3FGs:Scottie WilbekinTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Roman Sorkin led Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv with 20 points (7/11 2PT, 6/8 FT), 9 rebounds and 22 PIR.

Scottie Wilbekin aided him with 18 points (0/5 2PT, 4/11 3PT, 6/6 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 20 PIR.

On the opposing side, J'Covan Brown was the high-scorer for Hapoel Tel Aviv, ending with 26 points (4/8 2PT, 4/11 3 PT, 6/6 FT), 7 assists and 22 PIR.

Bar Timor made a 2-pointer and reduced the deficit to 4 points (77-81) with 3:17 left. Both teams exchanged multiple successful possesions until Maccabi stopped the essential opponents‘ attack, Keenan Evans made a pair of free throws to build more solid lead (89-83) with 38 seconds left.

J‘Cowan Brown answered with a triple (86-89), but Oz Blayzer sank both shots from the charity stripe and the Israeli champs won with the final score of 93-86.

The first quarter went back-and-forth for both teams until Jalen Reynolds and Roman Sorkin scored some buckets and visitors build a 6-point lead (24-18) after the first ten minutes.

Maccabi opened the second quarter with a good offensive flow, extending their lead to 10 points (40-30). Derrick Williams and Keenan Evans added 3-pointers, John Di Bartolomeo made a jumper and Maccabi finish the first half with a 14-point lead at halftime (50-36).

Maccabi controlled the game for a biggest part of third quarter, keeping a solid double-digit lead, meanwhile, hosts closed the third tally with a massive 14-2 run to narrow Maccabi's lead to 6 points (65-71) after the third.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv:Roman Sorkin 20 (9 REB), Scottie Wilbekin 18, Derrick Williams 16 (6 REB), Keenan Evans 15 (5 REB), James Nunnally 11.

Hapoel Tel Aviv: J'Covan Brown 26 (7 AST), Idan Zalmanson 16 (7 REB, 4 AST), Bar Timor 15, JP Tokoto 12 (11 REB, 5 AST), James Young 11.

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