Maccabi extend their winning streak to five by besting Baskonia / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Aitor Arrizabalaga/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Aitor Arrizabalaga/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (6-3) extended their winning streak to five by taking down Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (3-5) in Spain 87-69 (21-14, 23-21, 19-19, 24-15).

Player of the Game EFF 26 Derrick Williams Points 21 Accuracy 8-16 Rebounds 7 Assists 2

Maccabi started the match well, with Derrick Williams leading them to a 21-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, Baskonia responded with a 13-0 run to gain a 27-21 advantage.

But then it was Maccabi's turn to go on a spurt, outscoring the hosts 16-2. Derrick Williams finished the half with two straight buckets, giving the Israeli team a nine-point advantage going into the break (44-35).

Baskonia had a solid start to the second half, cutting their deficit to four (42-46), but the visitors responded with Jalen Reynold dominating and giving Maccabi a nine-point advantage going into the final period (63-54).

An 8-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter gave Maccabi a commanding 17-point advantage (73-56) that Baskonia were not able to overcome. Maccabi took an 18-point victory - their fourth straight in the EuroLeague.

Derrick Williams recorded his season-high for Maccabi, leading them with 21 points (5/9 2PT, 3/7 3PT, 2/2 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, and 26 PIR.

"I feel great. We won. That's the main thing," Williams said happily post-game. "Everybody who came into the game stepped up. Keenan played great. Zizic played great. James played great. Jalen played great. The list can go on. When we play a complete game like this, not too many teams can beat us. That’s how I feel."

Wade Baldwin was solid for Baskonia, ending with 15 points (5/8 2PT, 1/2 3PT, 2/3 FT), 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, and 18 PIR.

"I think we controlled the game from the beginning with our good defense," Maccabi coach Sfairopoulos explained after the match. "When you allow the home team to score fewer than 70 points, you get into the game, you control the game. Also on offense, we had some moments where we played really good."

Maccabi: Derrick Williams 21 (7 REB), Jaylen Reynolds 16 (5 REB), Ante Zizic 16, Keenan Evans 14 (8 AST, 5 REB), James Nunnally 12 (6 REB, 4 AST).

Baskonia: Wade Baldwin 15 (5 REB, 5 AST), Simone Fontecchio 13 (7 REB, 5 STL), Matthew Costello 13, Landry Nnoko 10.

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