The Israeli champs fine-tuned their ranks for the postseason with a well-deserved victory over Milan
Maccabi kept rolling to stay confident ahead of play-in
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 34 of 34
Group Regular Season
w
l
w
w
w
l
w
l
w
w
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv maintained its good run of form with a 92-86 home win over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in the last round of the regular season and will head into next week’s Play-In Showdown on a high note.
It was Maccabi’s seventh victory in its last eight games and came against an opponent that needed to come out on top to have any chance of sneaking into the postseason, while also needing two other results to go its way for that to happen.
Things didn’t work out for Milan in any aspect, as Anadolu Efes Istanbul vanquished Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade 100-55 and denied the Italian team a chance to stay alive for at least another day.
The result in Istanbul also made Friday’s contest between Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Valencia Basket a dead rubber, as Efes’s win means that Partizan too has no chance of advancing.
Milan’s only hopes rested on beating Maccabi coupled with defeats for both Efes and Partizan. The Italian team’s head coach Ettore Messina acknowledged it was difficult to lift his players after news broke that Efes was tearing Zvezda apart.
He also pointed out Milan’s awful away form this season, with the former three-time EuroLeague champions going 3-14 on the road.
“It wasn’t easy for my players to keep competing after learning what was happening in Istanbul,” Messina said in his post-game comments. “We should have won here nevertheless, but I am happy with the effort we put in, it was a good game by both teams and now we’ll move forward. It was a challenging season plagued by injuries but we didn’t perform well enough on the road. We might have been in a different position with a bit more consistency and focus, but it is what it is.”
Game Videos
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8e7ea801-f654-49a3-ac2a-37a4c565963e.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A79]()
Blatt finds Hoard! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/30ac31d6-5a00-4b1e-bbba-a7754e87b0d0.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A190%3A85]()
Jokubaitis's buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/09/hfHXivGFJErQDlAa1QPUQnl0XjcudOjs-1736459940034.jpg]()
Shavon Shields: 'Everybody did their part'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/UZ-nO84Sm5g/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 20 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/E-K6wCnWOys/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:45
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/02/yON2rY4LE9JHti1S1b6ZTTsD4OXwpDqh-1735853313256.jpg]()
Zach LeDay: 'I wanted to be there for my team'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/V3IzJqdInEw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9cad4c56-ad6f-4c95-b6c2-5497d0e1880b.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/26/zGIoakj3w2RsLjxPZ3EgZkOUvVFyhRz6-1735247597729.jpg]()
Jaylen Hoard: 'Happy about the way we played defense today'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3b41ad96-3937-4f44-8d85-e1141c8d0123.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9940cbf4-3f38-4d06-8e57-3b0b93cb7b10.jpg?crop=1156%3A650%3Anowe%3A72%3A47]()
How on earth, Bolmaro?! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ycsDW75misk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/V9GboH0vtWk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/57db6fc6-ecc1-43a2-ba89-737e49618b5a.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
EuroLeague & Friends, ep. 8: Maledon's performances, LeDay insight, and more
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/vDMG2AlXBXM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/K3myS2EETAk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2914f72f-6720-489f-abee-7dc50d0f5bd3.jpg?crop=1168%3A657%3Anowe%3A123%3A76]()
LeDay's poster dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3e605d01-c987-41b7-a423-6450717b937d.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A211%3A30]()
Roman Sorkin drives for a dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:46
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/13/IWBoHMrxdWEAPDc9yUgbZ9B49UzSkOVV-1734128930684.jpg]()
Zach LeDay: 'My dad was with me tonight'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/r7-EPf12MxY/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e8fe54fd-5ed5-4bc3-9601-1f72f78a8a82.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/74a1fafb-0407-49c4-b91d-808232b0c5a7.jpg?crop=1138%3A640%3Anowe%3A13%3A35]()
Hoard dunks off a Blatt alley-oop dish! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:12
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/06/lh3NKJgKsoRRS5VjWLMN3At2WoSrYzEm-1733524421067.jpg]()
Armoni Brooks: 'With this group of guys, I like what we can do'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/28d39112-0379-4ae4-88ae-174de550ea38.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f522effa-1bd1-4da3-a15d-5ea4d723f7f8.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-FC Barcelona | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/39744fa9-4544-436b-b964-12af24279aba.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A97%3A167]()
Gabriel’s block on Hernangomez! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:37
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/04/K3Zo9aNaqMeByl7yoIFXxxBtjIg9o23U-1733349624292.jpg]()
Fabien Causeur: 'We have to stay humble'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/00c4d0ba-d5ee-4700-8ebb-603a4d73b306.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2a7a1079-5667-40c8-801b-a1fa7dbb9ee9.jpg?crop=879%3A494%3Anowe%3A231%3A112]()
LeDay rejects Kalinic! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2770484b-7a2a-40f7-9d12-e7bf0689d4fb.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Paris Basketball | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fd25e0fc-2355-4a22-9506-622a65137aed.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/cZKWm0d-oBI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1422dc69-a041-47f5-b575-2bde670d63e2.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A79]()
DeJulius hits a buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7ddf1970-44f0-4b86-988d-8dc686254c02.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A147%3A124]()
Hoard's reverse alley-oop dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a8dc5a75-5ac6-40cf-809b-89f309b41c9a.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
EuroLeague & Friends: Monthly MVP candidates, Milan impressing, and more
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/hhv20iHb-5Q/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:16
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/21/lpdVKzM6GmGioikX8H8yqU7Fd8AfRXZq-1732227446927.jpg]()
Zach LeDay: 'Basketball is the best job in the world'
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7ddf1970-44f0-4b86-988d-8dc686254c02.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A176%3A127]()
Hoard with the rejection! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8235ef01-44f5-44f8-a466-1964eb14fd52.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
EuroLeague & Friends, ep. 4: The Belgrade derby, Paris's form and much more
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0599f23e-58b6-433e-b46f-377d3f82a751.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/15/xypTpEdl5tzfSiGaHG0CRn9G5kpcZGG6-1731709066299.jpg]()
Ettore Messina: 'You have to suffer to win games'
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0277c721-dbd7-4770-82a6-8ff657f5fec5.jpg?crop=1210%3A680%3Anowe%3A67%3A99]()
A massive dunk from Brooks! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/GAahGoLP8mc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv–Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 10 highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/31e6c208-72dd-42db-9895-85ddf014dd37.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A26%3A21]()
Roman Sorkin blocks Fournier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/74e3ce34-aaf0-4529-89b5-c6b74761e3cf.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A270%3A152]()
Gabriel rejects Walkup! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fd78ace7-5814-4f5b-a066-c64bddf5c89b.jpg?crop=989%3A556%3Anowe%3A544%3A161]()
Saben Lee explodes to the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/56072d45-57d4-4b71-b522-2c2c9a9d7f2c.jpg?crop=615%3A346%3Anowe%3A441%3A245]()
What a block by Wenyen Gabriel! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/AvLmSc__1do/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6ec0911e-c34b-442c-aa42-c2c11aedf20e.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4258f394-9387-49b1-b801-c3c744cc989a.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A147%3A190]()
Great dunk on the alley-oop by Sorkin! Motorola Magic Moment
Maccabi, which was assured of a seventh-place finish ahead of the game, benefited from another fine performance from the dynamic duo of Wade Baldwin, the March MVP, and towering center Josh Nebo. Both players stressed it was important for Maccabi to stay on a winning course ahead of the play-in game against opposition yet to be determined, after Friday’s clash between Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.
“It was a very challenging game,” said Nebo. “Milan are a great team and they were fighting for their chance to get into the play-in while we also took the game seriously and it was a tough one. We’ve got a big game next week, making the playoffs is important for us and hence we have to get some rest now.”
Baldwin added: “Despite the circumstances, it’s another 20-win season for us and we’re now going to gear up for Tuesday’s play-in game here. We have to be totally committed and play like we did in March at both ends of the floor.”
Head coach Oded Kattash echoed the duo’s stance that Maccabi was determined not to just go through the motions. “Milan obviously had more to play for, but we wanted to keep our confidence high and play the right way,” he said. “I am happy that we got the 20th [regular-season] win.”