Tiktukno: summary of today's events in sports, 4.4/Sport1
The Spanish media followed with pleasure the fast-paced game between Barcelona and Maccabi Tel Aviv, and reported in detail after what they defined as "a victory of an entire season" by the Catalans. Barca won 89:92 thanks to a great 3-pointer by Niko Probitola five seconds to the end, and kept a chance to finish the regular season in second place - which may also bring them together for a playoff series against the same Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The Spanish media praised the "terrible" Wade Baldwin and also complimented Hasiel Rivero and Josh Nibo who "became a nightmare for Barcelona's front line for long minutes", but also pointed out the yellows' weak points. "Lorenzo Braun is very far from the player he used to be. He is clearly on the decline," they wrote in "Marka", and killed Oded Ketch's substitutions, after they mistakenly believed that he played into Barcelona's hands when he did not trust enough of the second five players who excelled in the minutes they received. "Kets destroyed everything he built and achieved throughout the game, after taking out his secondary players in the final minutes. His fixation may have cost Maccabi Tel Aviv a loss," they wrote.
It's not like before. Lorenzo Brown, right/GettyImages
At the end, Barça coach Roger Grimeau praised Proprofitola, who once again starred against Maccabi Tel Aviv. "He hit a tough 3-pointer, but he practices it every day, so it's no surprise that it went in," the coach said. "He has a lot of qualities, and we know he can score baskets like that."
Grimeau complimented Maccabi Tel Aviv and defined it as "a tough and challenging opponent, both athletically and physically."
"They punished us for mistakes during the game. We knew they would return to the game after we opened a gap, because this is an excellent team. Fortunately, we were cool enough in the last minutes," he concluded.
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Maccabi Tel Aviv in basketball