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Super Mike James leads CSKA Moscow to their first Euroleague win against Maccabi

After an intense match, especially in the second half, CSKA Moscow takes the win against Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

Photo: CSKA Basket

With Mike James on fire for another game, CSKA survived Maccabi’s pressure and got the 76-72win. Despite Othello Hunter reaching 1000 rebounds in the Euroleague, Maccabi didn’t manage to get the win in Moscow, with CSKA downing Maccabi after an exciting, especially in the second half, match.

Mike James was, for another game, the leading scorer for CSKA with 25 points, with Will Clyburn adding 19. Scottie Wilbekin did almost everything for Maccabi, with 20 points, with Tyler Dorsey adding 16.

After a slow start in the first quarter, both teams tried to find score inside the paint but Scottie Wilbekin and Tyler Dorsey for Maccabi led the way for their team by scoring some big three-pointers. Some missed shots from Maccabi, gave CSKA the chance to score and get the lead, 20-15, at the end of the first quarter.

CSKA’s great passing game in the second quarter gave them the chance to score for three and extend their lead in the beginning of the quarter (23-17). Bender’s two rebounds and three points were not enough for Maccabi, with CSKA and Will Clyburn running their own 5-0 to get the largest lead in the game (28-20). Dorsey’s offensive effort and Wilbekin’s defense, brought Maccabi back to the game at the end of the first half (31-30).

In the third quarter, Maccabi’s confidence from the end of the first half helped the players of Giannis Sfairopoulos tie the game (38-38). With CSKA taking a small lead and Maccabi tying it, the two teams ended the third quarter with CSKA up in the score by one point.

Maccabi managed to take the lead in the fourth and final quarter (48-52) with two points from Ante Zizic and Scottie Wilbekin respectively, forcing coach Itoudis and CSKA to a time-out. After that, and for a couple of minutes, it was a one-man show with Scottie Wilbekin scoring for Maccabi, with CSKA trying to stay close to the score and not let Maccabi extend their lead even more. Two big three-point shots from Mike James and Nikita Kurbanov gave CSKA the lead back, with 2:30 minutes remaining. With Maccabi and Tyler Dorsey closing the gap to three points (69-66) one minute until the end, Clyburn was the one who punished Maccabi with a big three. Despite Dorsey’s big three pointer, 30 seconds before the end of the match, CSKA survived and got their first win in this season’s Euroleague.

CSKA Moscow - Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv Highlights | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, RS Round 2
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