Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv earned a statement victory on Thursday night, beating Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 75-71 at the Menora Mivtachim Arena to boost its EuroLeague postseason ambitions.
The Israeli team has been known for its explosive scoring all season, coming into the match with an average of 94.8 points in its nine previous wins, but this time it relied almost entirely on defense, effort and execution.
Maccabi recorded the lowest winning score of the campaign, finishing with just 75 points while recording just 10 assists, less than half the season average of 20.3.
The hosts struggled from long range, converting 9 of 33 three-point attempts and shooting just 27.3 percent from beyond the arc, but remained calm during a tightly contested, physical game.
Panathinaikos briefly seized the momentum with a 0-7 burst to open the match, but Maccabi settled down quickly defensively and never allowed the visitors to regain any rhythm.
From then on, neither team was able to gain a lead of more than five points in the final 26 minutes.
The home team opened the fourth quarter with a decisive 6-0 run and led throughout the final period, although the margin never provided any consolation.
Panathinaikos reduced the deficit to 73-71 within the final two minutes, but missed three consecutive perimeter looks from TJ Shorts, Kostas Sloukas and Jerian Grant that could have turned the game around.
Iffe Lundberg sealed the outcome at the foul line, finishing with 16 points while shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the line.
Roman Sorkin anchored Maccabi’s interior presence with 13 points and eight rebounds, providing crucial physicality in a game defined by half-court contact and execution.
Tamir Blatt delivered the most efficient shooting show of the evening. He scored all fifteen points from three-point range while hitting a personal-best five triples in six attempts.
The result takes Maccabi to 10-14 and a perfect 3-0 since returning to home ground, while Panathinaikos drops to 14-10 and missed a chance to strengthen its position in the top eight.
Maccabi then travels to Valencia Basket, while Panathinaikos heads to France for a road meeting with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne.
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