The first EuroLeague loss. Barça were second best to Maccabi in the first half, going in more than 20 points down at the break. A better second half wasn't enough to recover and the undefeated run ended with the final score 85-68. Higgins (20) and Mirotic (17) were Barça's top scorers.
Suffocating start
Maccabi managed to stop Barça's attack and continually break through their defence to run up a lead of 59-36 at the break.
Second half reaction
Saras' men improved in all respects in the second half, managing to come within 11 points with 10 minutes left. It was all in vain, however, as Maccabi came back to take the game 85-68 and end the leaders' unbeaten run.
Game stats:
Maccabi Playtika, 85
Barça, 68
Maccabi Playtika: Wilbekin (16), Evans (9), Williams (12), Taylor (7) y Zizic (10) – starters l-, Caloiaro (2), Sorkin (2), Nunnally (17) and Ziv.
Barça: Calathes (9), Higgins (20), Kuric (3), Mirotic (17) y Sanli (-) – starters -, Davies (8), Martinez (-), Smits (2), Hayes-Davis (-), Laprovittola (5), Jokubaitis (4) and Caicedo (-).
Interim scores: 31-18 / 25-18 / 9-18 / 20-14
Referees: Matej Boltauzer, Sreten Radovic and Fernando Rocha.
