EUROLEAGUE – Vujcic, Maccabi dial up another win at Nokia

TEL AVIV (Euroleague) - The picture is starting to look rosy for Maccabi Tel Aviv, who won against Armani Jeans Milano on Thursday for their 10th victory in the Euroleague this season.

Playing without Nikola Vujcic for almost three months while the big man recovered from injury, Maccabi got their Croatian center back and scored 10 points in a 91-76 triumph at the Nokia Arena.

Yotam Halperin, the Israeli international, poured in 13 of his season-high 24 in the decisive third quarter for Maccabi when they hit back from a 46-44 deficit at half-time to lead 71-65 by the end of the period.

They pressed home the advantage over the final 10 minutes to win comfortably and go into the final week of group play with a chance to beat Lietuvos Rytas to first in the standings.

Lietuvos Rytas overcame Unicaja Malaga on Wednesday, and both teams have 10-3 records.

Zalgiris Kaunas are now fourth in Group A at 8-5 behind CSKA Moscow (11-2), Montepaschi Siena (9-4) and Tau Ceramica (8-5) after beating Pini Gershon’s Olympiacos (7-6).

The Greek giants slipped to fifth.

Olimpija Ljubljana (4-9) are trying to get the Top 16 place on offer to the team with the best sixth-placed record and kept their faint hopes of doing that alive with a 75-60 win over Virtus Bologna.

In Group C, Partizan Belgrade (5-8), who fell in overtime last week at Lottomatica Roma, are almost certain of taking that final spot after humiliating Bamberg (2-11), 85-37.

Panathinaikos (12-1) clinched first place in by thrashing Fenerbahce (6-7) at home, 88-68 while Real Madrid (10-3) must settle for second place after an 82-68 win at Chorale Roanne (3-10)

FIBA