Maccabi Tel Aviv pulled a Harry Houdini on the Purim Holiday to fend off Nes Ziona 93-89 to move into second place and send the fans home in a celebratory mood. The Yellow & Blue jumped out to a first quarter advantage as Scottie Wilbekin and James Nunnally led the way but Tim Soares and Diante Garrett helped Nes Ziona get back into the game.

Avi Even’s squad again bumped up their lead as Derrick Williams hit a pair of fourth quarter triples but once again Lior Lubin’s team chipped away with timely baskets by Lior Carreira and Golan Gutt. However, Williams drained a corner 3-pointer with under a minute left in the game while the shot clock expired to seal the win for Maccabi.

Wilbekin led the way with 23 points (6/9 from 3) and 9 assists, Nunnally added 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists while Derrick Williams scored 15 points in the victory. Garrett paced Nes Ziona with 22 points, Soares added 18 points and Simisola Shittu scored 12 points in the loss.

“This was an important win for us after the loss to Beer Sheva,” Even said following the game. “We brought the right energy to the game, led most of the way and they had to chase us. BUt we couldn’t finish it off when we had too. There are some disturbing things and I will have to take a good look at what we need to improve.”

“We didn’t start the game well defensively,” Lubin began. “When we needed to make some stops we were able to and stay with them. I’m happy that the players fought, but it’s still disappointing as we were right there. On one side I’m proud of the effort but on the other hand we cane out empty handed.”

Oz Blayzer talked about the win, “It’s very important that we won and every victory is crucial. We have to focus on defense and all five players on the court need to work on it. As for myself, it always feels good and when I’m playing I want to give 200%. It’s great that I can be there on the floor at the end but that’s a result of what I’ve invested in hard work.”

Tim Soares got busy in the paint and Frank Bartley went from deep to open the first quarter for Nes Ziona but a triple by James Nunnally along with points by Scottie Wilbekin and Ante Zizic gave Maccabi Tel Aviv a 8-7 lead midway through the frame. Soares kept scoring and Diante Garrett went from downtown, while Keenan Evans, Nunnally and Wilbekin did the same but it was the latter two that continued to fill the basket with 13 and 11 points respectively to take a 33-25 lead after ten minutes of play.

Derrick Williams, Jake Cohen and Iftach Ziv all put in points to get the second quarter underway, Garrett sliced his way to the hoop at the other end and Soares dialled up long distance as both teams continued to score at will with Avi Even’s squad up 39-32 with 6:43 left in the first half. Wilbekin hit another 3-pointer, Zizic put down a dunk but Soares, Bartley and Simisola Shittu all scored to cut the lead to 51-46 by halftime.

Zizic began the third quarter with a pair of dunks, Nunnally added points for the yellow-and-blue while Wilbekin drilled home a triple to bump the advantage up to double digits, 63-51 midway through the period. Wilbekin and Soares traded baskets, Garrett and Blazyer did the same, Gutt and Wilbekin each scored from long distance while Williams jammed the ball home to keep Maccabi in front 78-70 after thirty minutes of action.

Nimrod Tishman and Soares scored to get the fourth quarter off and running to cut the lead to 80-77, but Williams drained a pair of 3-pointers while Zizic scored as well to bump it right back up to 88-79 with 3:42 remaining in regulation time. Gutt went from deep, Lior Carreira scored on the inside and from the outside, to bring the game down to just 3-points, 90-87 but Williams move again went from downtown as he hit a corner 3-ball as the shot clock ran down to keep Maccabi ahead for good to take the win.