Maccabi stayed perfect at home, winning its tenth consecutive game 69-63 in a defensive battle that was decided in the closing minute. Olimpia had a great approach, played an excellent first half when it led by one and should have been up by more points. The team was plagued by erratic foul shooting (5 for 11) and didn’t gain anything from a flagrant foul called on Jalen Reynolds over Arturas Gudaitis. Maccabi took control early in the third when Scottie Wilbekin started with a 4-point play and didn’t stop there. All of a sudden, Maccabi took a nine-point lead, but Olimpia managed to stay the course and responded plenty of times.  Late in the fourth after two consecutive threes by Rodriguez and Sykes reduced the gap to three points. A shot-clock beating floater by Wilbekin proved to be the decisive field goal. “I think our defense was pretty much good all night. The difference we’re some contested shots that they made while we struggled against their switches, but I’m proud of the effort that we put on the floor tonight,” Coach Ettore Messina said at the end.

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