The All-EuroLeague guard set club records in leading Maccabi to a season-extending win
Lorenzo Brown back to his best with perfect timing
Article
3 Mins read
It’s been a tough season for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv playmaker Lorenzo Brown, who has struggled to find his best form after battling a persistent back injury.
The point guard was an All-EuroLeague First Team selection last season after averaging 16.4 points and 16.1 PIR, but those respective figures dipped to a still-respectable 12.6 points and 12.2 PIR in the current campaign.
And Brown particularly struggled towards the end of the regular season, mustering averages of just 8.4 points and 8.4 PIR over the last seven games.
However, he brushed that relatively lackluster form aside on Tuesday night to deliver his best performance of the season and lead Maccabi to a resounding 113-85 victory over Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, progressing from the competition’s first play-in game to a playoff series with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens.
Doubtless boosted in confidence by striking a pair of three-pointers in the opening minute, Brown excelled throughout the game to finish with 29 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 1 steal for a PIR of 35.
He was especially hot from long-range, sinking a personal best 7 of his 8 three-point attempts to record the joint fourth-highest number of deep strikes in playoff history.
That performance also set a couple of club records, with his 29 points and 7 triples the highest ever achieved in Maccabi’s illustrious postseason history.
After the spectacular win, which kept Maccabi’s season alive, Brown looked relieved to have recovered his best form as he admitted: “[It’s a] beautiful feeling right now. Driving all year, going through adversity, but we’ve been sticking with it, staying together, and that’s the most important part for our team.
“It's been a long year for me, playing this whole year through injury and a few other things as well, but we’ve been pushing through it and letting everything flow by.”
His coach Oded Kattash was more effusive, glowing: “We always knew and always remembered [how great Brown is], even if he was in a period where he was less good.
“A lot was dependent on his body, how he returned from his injury and found his pace. On a professional level in the coaches’ room, we never lost confidence and neither did the players.
“Lorenzo, like a great player, showed he knows how to take a step up when big games come. I am happy for him. He went through a tough time. He did what he’s been doing for us two years already; he led us.”
And with his best version restored, Brown’s leadership could take Maccabi a lot further yet.
Game Videos
- 01:38
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Chima Moneke: 'This is our best win of the season'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/K3myS2EETAk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
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Roman Sorkin drives for a dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
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Donta Hall makes creative bucket! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9784b387-7c1e-4d89-b6a0-645268f0b32d.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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FC Bayern Munich-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
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Hall rises for spectacular swat! Motorola Magic Moment,
- 00:08
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Hoard dunks off a Blatt alley-oop dish! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
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Hall says give me that! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:31
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Devin Booker: 'We had the energy from the fans'
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FC Bayern Munich-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-FC Barcelona | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
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Moneke with the chasedown block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
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Gabriel’s block on Hernangomez! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:36
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Donta Hall: 'We had to bring our hard hats too'
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Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Paris Basketball | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
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Moneke sends Hall flying for alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
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Donta Hall swats it away! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/cZKWm0d-oBI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Zalgiris Kaunas-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
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DeJulius hits a buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
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Hoard's reverse alley-oop dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![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
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Olympiacos Piraeus-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
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Hoard with the rejection! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
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Moneke’s block on Milutinov! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
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Forrest rejects Fournier! Motorola Magic Moment
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Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz–AS Monaco | RS Round 10 highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:21
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Moneke throws it down! 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
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Roman Sorkin blocks Fournier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
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Gabriel rejects Walkup! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
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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
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Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
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Great dunk on the alley-oop by Sorkin! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/173f3bb5-7fc7-4bb6-98a6-87f4d7ff22f3.jpg]()
Howard with the sweet dish! Motorola Magic Moment
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Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d57e6268-cfec-409c-b4fe-b7e564ca5a29.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
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Gabriel with a audacious alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
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Moneke's huge alley-oop slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/34dd9bee-ee9b-420c-b1d2-5dcec67fa32a.jpg?crop=810%3A456%3Anowe%3A40%3A0]()
Hall stops Nunez! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/43f9b422-5463-4c6d-b108-7f6c2a023fe4.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A132%3A41]()
Hall's alley-oop dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2d480d1d-e06e-4dbe-be9f-960a3b855044.jpg?crop=1001%3A563%3Anowe%3A94%3A15]()
Monster dunk by Rivero! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b1e3930a-5498-4a09-8246-59932dd74673.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:23
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Hall rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:09
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Jaramaz denies Lo! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bbe0afd1-8ea1-4ba6-82a8-49bfda0c8eec.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A51%3A65]()
What a dunk by Donta Hall! Motorola Magic Moment
