The duo, coupled with a good performance from Rokas Jokubaitis, had too much firepower for the visitors
Maccabi leaned on Jaylen Hoard and Roman Sorkin to thump Zalgiris
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 18 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv celebrated its most emphatic win of the season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague after the Israeli champs vanquished Zalgiris Kaunas 95-78 in Round 18 with several players excelling in a majestic all-around performance.
First and foremost Jaylen Hoard, as the versatile forward sank a game-high 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and a perfect 8 of 8 from the foul line. Hoard also racked up 5 boards and 4 assists to underline a flowing individual effort.
“It was a really great game and I was happy about the way we played defense today,” Hoard said in a post-game interview. “I feel I’ve played well in most of the last few outings but I always try to play better, each and every game,” he added.
Game Videos
- 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
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6875c309-9b37-4866-b91a-5a1e7ea020cd.jpg?crop=923%3A520%3Anowe%3A123%3A30]()
Smailagic takes off! Motorola Magic Moment
![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/bc8882ff-a50a-4896-99e8-4b4a36c83544.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6875c309-9b37-4866-b91a-5a1e7ea020cd.jpg?crop=757%3A426%3Anowe%3A230%3A91]()
Smailagic with a big two-handed slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2f789458-60a5-4946-9981-3154d4f02d57.jpg?crop=806%3A453%3Anowe%3A320%3A65]()
Dunston's big swat! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/17/plgEdeiuLUVXVZ17ZgeXQyyIdgZCpuFJ-1734476988737.jpg]()
Lonnie Walker: 'When we're locked in on defense, I don't think there's anyone who can beat us'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d76b904a-40bf-4403-a9c1-b45d034e657e.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Zalgiris Kaunas | 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
- 00:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/17/J2HZT8BQZYUk1gWfEesF2SYIqMUDXPFm-1734476734149.jpg]()
Birutis skies for the dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 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
- 00:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/12/WE6BQO19exI6VKKUVImiR7Y5svex7y3O-1734043574146.jpg]()
Lonnie Walker: 'It was a collective win'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cb51b927-3088-4142-8b2c-91cf3d68fe39.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Zalgiris Kaunas | 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
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3652c392-64f1-4722-adf5-dad9b666e1fe.jpg?crop=1328%3A747%3Anowe%3A0%3A14]()
Smailagic puts it back! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/88abae27-2c2c-4415-aa7d-33c3305a3253.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A103]()
Birutis's big block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:12
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/UI1w0QJJA8QkTKvwfuY1Ox1ZNVeS9zs6-1733441184985.jpg]()
Lonnie Walker: 'Our defensive effort led our team'
- 00:26
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/h5N7RnfvbPHAzrzMehVRd3fQdAEJxgSu-1733436269493.jpg]()
FANS go CRAZY for this dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![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
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0ff530da-db2f-4dea-b72e-3f1aeb202f4f.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | 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
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6abb4ce1-1563-438c-80be-9de8afc02eb6.jpg?crop=1334%3A750%3Anowe%3A8%3A33]()
Smailagic's put-back slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/88abae27-2c2c-4415-aa7d-33c3305a3253.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A167%3A85]()
Birutis throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0adea31c-c01b-40d8-bb0d-8fe9a50d57e1.jpg?crop=1236%3A695%3Anowe%3A57%3A59]()
Smailagic's big block! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4dfca9c9-6a24-41d8-84bc-974fffe64c54.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![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://img.youtube.com/vi/cZKWm0d-oBI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/92049d76-cbaf-455a-9562-a9286baa0b81.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | 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
- 00:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/22/VFoyDhGC1NUeT53Nul9O5ICBYPeM6R2z-1732310134528.jpg]()
Lonnie’s lift-off!! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/GZzt0du0g6A/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/22/AbDlhRWgrfgb0AD6HTcm1Yt3P7lKg57J-1732307196906.jpg]()
Lonnie Walker: ‘I love the team, I love the organization’
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/93468087-bce0-4611-a5fb-27e37ef6805c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A115%3A123]()
Francisco hustles back for the block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/355e7bd7-410c-46ca-afa6-459d66d5f51c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A109%3A94]()
Lonnie’s lift-off!! 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
- 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://img.youtube.com/vi/s-yVNftwng0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![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://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/86b0777d-c4eb-47a5-8f92-55f2634799e5.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8acdc8ab-1031-491c-bd5a-fc7673ca1aac.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
EuroLeague & Friends episode 3: Greek derby, Real Madrid’s struggles and more
![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
- 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
The outcome also provided some relief to head coach Oded Kattash after five successive defeats in Europe’s premier club competition, compounded by the weekend’s 101-84 drubbing at the hands of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in the Israeli league.
“I liked the reaction from my team because we had some tough losses last week, so I really liked the body language and the energy,” he said. “It’s really hard to get any momentum given our circumstances, but that’s our challenge.”
Rokas Jokubaitis and Roman Sorkin posted 18 points each for Maccabi and the latter stressed just how important it was for the team to bounce back from a series of setbacks.
“We wanted to respond after the loss we had in the domestic league and it was a good game for us,” said Sorkin. “We don’t want to celebrate too much, as we aim to improve defensively and get more wins. “
Zalgiris head coach Andrea Trinchieri made no excuses for a poor performance from his team. “It was our worst performance of the season as we weren’t ready to compete,” the Italian tactician said. "Congratulations to Maccabi as we gave up very early in the game and we had a very bad night.”
In Round 19, Zalgiris is at home to Olympiacos Piraeus while Maccabi makes a very short trip across the Serbian capital to visit Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.