Olimpia had an outstanding offensive game and prevailed over Maccabi 98-86, after scoring 59 points in the two middle quarters. “It was a good win over a very good team with athletic players that can be dangerous in many ways. Everybody, even in limited minutes, helped, sacrificed, moved the ball,” Coach Ettore Messina said. It is the fourth win in the last five games.
Maccabi started the game 9-2, when Nikola Mirotic took over and Neno Dimitrijevic had some impactful minutes off the bench with three straight mid-range jumpers. Olimpia led 20-17 before Mariol Shayok with two long distance jumpers gave Maccabi a 22-20 lead. In the second quarter Mirotic again opened up the game. He started with three free throws, then made two threes in a row. Another one came from Nico Mannion, another from Armoni Brooks and the last one was made by Zach LeDay. Olimpia took control, 50-43.
The third period belonged initially to Armoni Brooks. He began with a mid-range jumper, then made two more threes. He passed the baton to Zach LeDay. With back-to-back corner threes, he opened up a 14-point lead for Olimpia. Maccabi however managed to stay in the game with some Di Bartolomeo’s daggers, the in-and-out game of Jaylen Hoard and the quickness inside of Roman Sorkin. Olimpia scored 29 points in the third but led only by nine. So, Maccabi went all-out and reduced the lead to four points a couple of times. LeDay again provided some big shots and Olimpia improved defensively and finished the possessions with defensive rebounds. “Just like in Belgrade, we allowed 16 points in the fourth quarter. That was again a step in the right direction. Our defense is not always good, but it was at the end,” Messina said.
Six players scored in double digits and two went over the twenty-point barrier, Zach LeDay and Nikola Mirotic. Armoni Brooks fought with foul trouble in the second half but had 16 points. Dimitrijevic added 11, Causeur 11 too and Nico Mannion finished with 12 points and eight assists in another big effort down the stretch. Shavon Shields, returning from an injury, scored four points but had five assists.
