A terrible night in the end. Olimpia dominates all night long, holding also a 13-point lead, looking pretty much in total control especially when the score is 82-70 after a 4-point play by David Moss. The team does a lot of right things, six players scored in double figure and the two centers, Lawal and Samuels, play a terrific game. But the final events are dramatic when a flagrant foul is called on Melli when it was still leading by five with 28 seconds left and then a 3-point play by Rice allowed Maccabi to get an improbable lead. Then there are missed foul shots contrary to what Maccabi does. Langford ties the game with less than one second to play but misses the second shot. In the overtime, Milano is proud enough to get up one last time on a Jerrells’ three, but Rice and Hickman are in control, they own the game and close it 101-99. Maccabi 1-0 in the series
THE FIRST HALF – David Blatt tries to start with Zizic in the line-up while keeping Schortsianitis on the bench but it doesn’t last much. The Maccabis’ center size is impressive even compared to Samuels’, who tries to use his jumper. When he makes one, from mid-range, is 7-6 Olimpia in the middle of the first. Schortsianitis scores seven quick points, Maccabi’s offense is him when he’s on the court. The second three by Moss pushes Olimpia up 12-20. Blus responds. He scores twice in a row but Melli punishes Maccabi’s defense with a couple of huge threes and Olimpia flies away, 20-15. The third three belongs to Jerrells but in the meanwhile Blu has scored three times in a row. 23-19 Olimpia at the end of the first. Four consecutive foul shots made by Gani Lawal extend Olimpia’s lead, 27-21. Maccabi is breathing because of a huge three by Joe Ingles so in spite of a sensational appearance by Lawal in the middle of the second is again 31 all. Kangur from the corner and Jerrells on a step-back make two threes after a devastating Lawal’s block over Tyus. Olimpia goes up 37-31. Blatt calls a time-out and Schortsianitis. He shows his muscles, he dunks, keep Maccabi in the hunt, then Lawal blocks even one of his close range shots, runs on the break and dunks: 43-35 Olimpia, 1’43” to play in the second. But Maccabi with patience finds Schortsianitis deep inside: the Greek center scores five points in a row and brings Maccabi back within three points, 43-40. Jerrells on a drive and then Langford beating the shot-clock close the first half: 47-42 Olimpia.
THE SECOND HALF – Langford startes with a three, Melli grabs a rebound keeping it from Blu, the lead goes up to eight. Schortsianitis gets Maccabi close but Samuels uses all the room he gets to score from long-range the 54-45 three, Langford extends it to 12 forcing Maccabi to call a time-out. Melli’s third three pushes EA7 up by 13, 60-47 but Maccabi bounces back with a 4-0 run. Samuels brings Olimpia again up by 13 from the line and then a tap-in closes the third: 70-58 Olimpia with Langford scoring 10 in the period. The fourt quarter belongs early to Maccabu with a Hickman’s three and a bank shot by Ohayon. In two minutes, EA7’s lead is reduced to seven, 72-65. Hackett takes charge with an aggressive move to the basket and a great assist for Lawal. Olimpia regains a double digit lead and then explodes up by 13 after two free throws by Kangur. Devin Smith responds with a shot-clock beating three. With 4 minutes left, Maccabi is again within eight points. David Moss re-enters the game with three fouls and fron the left corner makes the 4-point play of the 82-70 lead. Hickman, terrific in the closing minutes, attacks Melli on a mismatch and completes a 3-point play. Seconds later he makes a three and it’s down by four. The last minute is unreal: Jerrels makes one foul shot out of two, Olimpia is up by five, Maccabi struggle to put the ball on play but then Melli makes a flagrant foul allowing Rice to go to the line. Maccabi scores again with Rice. Hackett makes one. Rice with a 3-point play takes the lead for Maccabi with 11 seconds remaining. Alex Tyus blocks Langford’s shot but the same Langford gets fouled on a last shot, makes one and it’s overtime.
THE OVERTIME – Alex Tyusmisses the foul shot to put Maccabi up by five. Olimpia is tired but still fights with pride. It gets within two twice. Samuels ties it up with a short hook with 70 seconds left. Rice, devastating, scores again. Jerrells with a huge three takes the last lead for EA7, 96-95. But Hickman responds from the line with 24 seconds left. And shortly after, he extends, 99-96. Maccabi fouls intentionally. Langford makes two. Hickman returnes to the line and looks like he never misses. Langford takes another foul, makes the first, misses intentionally the second. Lawal takes the ball somewhat but it’s on the ground, no whistle blows and can’t get a shot off.
