Žižić scored 23 points to help Maccabi beat Olympiacos and walk out of the Eighth Straight Uele League

In the 22nd round of UEFA Basketball, Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Olympiacos 84-69 at home, ushering in their first victory in more than two months. The last win was against Monaco on 17 November 2021, and since then they have suffered eight straight defeats and slipped to 13th.

The game began with the two sides tightly clenched, with Maccabi's Croatian centre-forward Rižić doing well, scoring 16 points in the first half (23 points out of the game) to help the home team take a small lead into the half-time (40-38). After the start of the second half, the situation suddenly changed. Maccabi hit a 12-3 wave of attacks to take a nine-point lead (52-43). Faced with Maccabi's pressing defense, the Red and White Armies were helpless and gradually collapsed. In the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, they scored just one point, and the point difference widened to 18 points (75-57). In the final two minutes, Wilbekin's three-pointer helped the home team lead by 22 points (81-59), and the winner was decided, and in the end Maccabi won a big victory.

After winning this game, Maccabi rekindled hopes of a playoff spot. If they can continue to maintain such a tough defense, coupled with the addition of former Rockets player Kyrie Thomas, I believe they can eventually reach the quarterfinals.

Olympiacos, on the other hand, has already suffered two consecutive away defeats. Faced with the home team's pressing, and the booing of the home spectators in Istanbul and Tel Aviv, they were terrified, sending 16 and 15 turnovers respectively, once again proving that they have some "away bug" qualities.