Jerusalem, March 31 : Maccabi Tel Aviv achieved an 85-66 home win over Italian champions Armani Milan, while FC Barcelona cruised past Alba Berlin 72-56 in the 32nd round of basketball’s EuroLeague.
Barcelona’s fourth win in a row secured them the home-court advantage in the playoffs.The other two teams that will enjoy the advantage are leaders Olympiacos Piraeus and second-placed Real Madrid, reports Xinhua.
Sertac Sanli devoted 12 points for Barcelona while former Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic had 11.Nikola Kalinic contributed 10 points for Barca.There were no double-digit scorers on Alba Berlin’s side as Yanni Wetzell scored a team-high nine, and Louis Olinde added seven.
Maccabi clinched their sixth consecutive EuroLeague win, close to securing a spot in the eight-team playoffs.Milan, on the other hand, remain with 14 wins from 32 games, losing all chances to qualify for the playoffs.
The first quarter of the game ended 29-21 for the hosts, thanks to points by Roman Sorkin and assists by Lorenzo Brown.Wade Baldwin, Sorkin and Brown dominated the second quarter, helping Maccabi reach halftime with zero turnovers and a 53-36 lead.
Three-pointers by Shabazz Napier cut the gap to 57-50 before the third quarter ended 66-56 for Maccabi.Early in the decisive quarter, the visitors cut the deficit to 66-60, but important points by Jarell Martin and Sorkin secured Maccabi’s win.
Sorkin scored a game-high 18 points for Maccabi, while Brown contributed 17 points and eight assists.Baldwin finished with 15 points.
Napier scored a team-high 15 points for Milan.
Elsewhere, Anadolu Efes beat Virtus Bologna 86-67.
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