Maccabi Tel Aviv Falls to Olympiacos in Preseason Finale

Maccabi Tel Aviv concluded its preseason preparation with a close 77-72 loss to European champions Olympiacos on Sunday. The Israeli team held a double-digit lead in the first quarter and entered the final period ahead, but faltered in the closing minutes, particularly in their defense.

Bonzie Colson led Maccabi with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Sorokin added 14 points. Yam Madar contributed 8 points and 7 assists. For Olympiacos, Amine Ndiaye scored 14 points, and Tyler Dorsey added 13.

Maccabi started strong, with Iffe Lundberg and Madar orchestrating the offense to build an early double-digit advantage. However, Tyler Dorsey sparked an Olympiacos comeback, erasing the deficit and giving his team a halftime lead. Maccabi struggled with their outside shooting in the second quarter, a recurring concern from the summer.

Despite a brief resurgence in the third quarter, Maccabi entered the final period with a slim three-point lead. The game remained tight until the last three minutes, when Olympiacos pulled away. Ndiaye scored crucial baskets in the paint, and Cody Miller-McIntyre effectively managed the offense to secure the win.

Coach Oded Kattash and Maccabi have several concerns heading into the regular season. Wade Baldwin IV appeared unfocused and disorganized on the court, despite showing confidence by taking shots. Yam Madar sustained a knee injury, raising hopes it is not serious. Additionally, Maccabi's three-point shooting percentage was a low 23% for the game.