Maccabi survives late Darussafaka challenge to snap slide

Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv snapped a six-game losing streak by edging its former head coach David Blatt and Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul 93-92 on Thursday at Menora Mivtachim Arena in an eventful contest that was only decided in the final second. The hosts, who had blown a 19-point lead in losing to Darussafaka two weeks ago in Turkey, led by 17 at halftime, but a big third quarter by the visitors saw Darussafaka take a 7-point lead early in the fourth. Maccabi regained control late, however Darussafaka made a late surge and Brad Wanamaker went to the free-throw line with 0.5 seconds left and a chance to tie it, but missed the first and Maccabi held on. Sonny Weems paced five Maccabi scorers in double figures with season highs of 24 points and 8 assists. Maik Zirbes and Victor Rudd added 13 points apiece, D.J. Seeley scored 12 and Andrew Goudelock 10. Will Clyburn paced a balanced Darussafaka lineup that featured six scorers in double figures with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Wanamaker tallied 16 points and 8 assists, teenager Ante Zizic had 14 points and 9 boards in just his second EuroLeague game, James Anderson scored 13, Adrien Moerman 11 and Scottie Wilbekin 10. Darussafaka lost despite outrebounding Maccabi 30-42.

Maccabi, using an unconventional lineup with Quincy Miller at center, came out on fire with 5 points from Weems and a triple by Goudelock to start 8-0. A double-technical foul on Miller and Semih Erden gave the Maccabi player 3 fouls in less than four minutes and sent him to the bench. Clyburn came off the bench to spark Darussafaka, but a Rudd triple gave the hosts a double-digit advantage, 15-5. The visitors rallied to within 19-14 on a Wilbekin jumper. However Weems added 5 more points in a 10-0 push for a promising 29-14 lead after 10 minutes. The difference grew to 17 before Anderson heated up with back-to-back threes to close the gap to 40-29 midway through the second quarter. But Gal Mekel took charge for the hosts and Goudelock’s jumper gave Maccabi a 53-36 halftime advantage. Darussafaka refocused for the start of the third quarter and, after threes by Wilbekin, Moerman and Clyburn, narrowed the gap to 59-50. Maccabi used a timeout, but the visitors continued their charge to get within 63-61 on a Wannamaker three. Zizic completed the comeback with a layup that tied it. Clyburn’s steal and layup gave Darussafaka its first lead of the game at 67-69 late in the third quarter and Moerman added a shot at the buzzer for a 4-point lead through three quarters. Luke Harangody’s triple to start the fourth made it 67-74. Maccabi battled back to regain control at 78-76 on a Sylven Landesberg three. Seeley added a triple for an 83-78 advantage. And Miller’s first points of the season came from downtown for a 90-81 cushion with two and a half minutes remaining. A pair of late Wilbekin steals gave Darussafaka hope at 93-88 with 27 seconds to go; and after Seeley missed twice from the line, Zizic’s put back made it a three-point game. Wanamaker was fouled trying a three with 0.5 seconds left and got 3 shots, but missed the chance to send the game to overtime.