Maccabi Tel Aviv is facing a challenging period following consecutive defeats in both Euroleague and Israeli League play. After a loss to Real Madrid in the Euroleague, the team suffered a surprising overtime defeat against Maccabi Rishon Lezion, raising concerns about its recent form.
Over the weekend, Maccabi Rishon Lezion overcame a 20-point deficit to edge out Maccabi Tel Aviv 93-90 in overtime, handing the latter its first Israeli League loss of the season. Despite a strong comeback led by Roman Sorkin’s 23 points, Maccabi Tel Aviv was ultimately unable to secure the win. Maccabi Rishon Lezion received balanced scoring contributions from Chaunce Jenkins (18 points), Justin Tillman (17), Qua Grant (16), and VJ King (16).
Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Oded Katash acknowledged the difficulties his team faced, citing aggressive play from the opposition and poor shooting in the first half, where the team managed only two successful three-pointers out of 18 attempts. “Everyone knows the schedule we have, and they ran the floor and dictated a fast pace,” Katash said, emphasizing the impact of the fast tempo on his team's performance.
On the other side, Maccabi Rishon Lezion coach Yotam Kaplan praised his team’s energy and fan support. “We just need to play hard. Basketball is secondary, and when you come in with the right energy and believe in yourselves, you can play good basketball and win,” he said, also noting the significance of responding positively after a previous tough loss.
In Euroleague action, Maccabi Tel Aviv fell 113-99 to Real Madrid, which set a Euroleague record by making 21 three-pointers. The defeat, which left Maccabi Tel Aviv with a 2-5 record, was hard-fought in the first half, with Maccabi leading 52-51 at halftime thanks to the efforts of Scottie Wilbekin (20 points), Kyle Guy (19), and Yam Madar (14). However, Real Madrid pulled away post-break, fueled by Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Andres Feliz, and Facundo Campazzo, who scored 21 points.
Katash pointed to a drop in energy and fatigue in the second half as key factors in the loss. He noted the difficulty in containing Real Madrid’s guards once they gained momentum but expressed that there were positive takeaways from the game. Players echoed the need for improvement, particularly in ball movement and maintaining defensive intensity, emphasizing the importance of overcoming the absence of injured player Ilfe Lundberg.
Elsewhere in the Israeli League, Hapoel Holon secured a 91-75 victory over Hapoel Beersheba, building an early lead and maintaining control throughout the game. Claudell Harris led Holon with 22 points, supported by Brandon Jones (20) and Adama Sanogo (18). Beersheba’s Tyreek Smith scored 25 points in defeat.
Hapoel Holon coach Predrag Krunic highlighted the importance of the win amid efforts to integrate new players. Meanwhile, Beersheba coach Doug Spradley expressed disappointment over his team’s lack of intensity and focus, calling for improvements moving forward.