Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv rediscovered its offensive rhythm at Menora Mivtachim Arena on Thursday night, edging Zalgiris Kaunas 100-97 in one of the highest-scoring games of the EuroLeague season.
The victory ended a three-game road skid for the Israeli side and improved its record to 9-13, with the home crowd once again proving decisive.
Maccabi entered the contest facing one of the league’s toughest defenses, with Zalgiris allowing just 81.3 points per game, yet quickly set the tone by moving the ball and shooting confidently from deep.
The hosts finished with 15 three-pointers and 24 assists, consistently breaking down rotations and forcing the visitors to defend the full width of the floor.
The first half unfolded as a shootout, with both teams trading runs before Maccabi carried a slim 52-49 lead into halftime.
A 9-2 burst early in the third quarter created the first double-digit cushion, though Zalgiris responded behind steady perimeter shooting to keep the margin within reach.
Roman Sorkin’s three-pointer early in the fourth pushed Maccabi past the 81-point mark, an early benchmark rarely reached against the Lithuanian club this season.
Zalgiris refused to fade, as Sylvain Francisco hit five triples, including a clutch shot that trimmed the deficit to 99-97 with eight seconds remaining.
Jimmy Clark III split a pair of free throws moments later, leaving the door open for a potential tying possession.
That opportunity vanished when Azuolas Tubelis mishandled the inbounds pass, and Maodo Lo’s desperation heave from midcourt came up short.
Maccabi’s balance carried the night, with TJ Leaf, Sorkin and Clark each scoring 17 points.
Leaf went 8-for-11 from two-point range, while Sorkin shot 7-for-9 overall as the hosts punished defensive switches in the paint.
Clark added a career-high four three-pointers, providing spacing that prevented Zalgiris from collapsing inside.
Zalgiris placed five players in double figures, led by Francisco’s 22 points and Moses Wright’s 17, while shooting an efficient 39.4 percent from beyond the arc.
The narrow loss dropped the Kaunas side to 12-10, tightening an already congested playoff race.
Head coach Oded Kattash now turns his focus to a difficult road test at Olympiacos Piraeus, while Zalgiris continues its trip in Villeurbanne before visiting Milan.
