By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The most complicated season in EuroLeague history in logistical terms has delivered a Sunday Tel Aviv derby, a very special matchup that ended with an away win, as Hapoel defeated Maccabi 88–99.
The victory allows the team coached by Dimitris Itoudis to secure a top-six finish and stay in contention for a top-four spot. With a 23–14 record, they are tied with Real Madrid and Fenerbahçe in positions ranging from 3rd to 5th place.
A completely different situation for Maccabi Tel Aviv, who drop to 18–19 with the loss and are now out of contention for the play-in ahead of the final and decisive round.
Chris Jones produced what is likely his best performance as a player for the Israeli club, finishing with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. Once again, Elijah Bryant was the top scorer for the team in red, this time with 19 points.
The top scorer of the game for the home side was Lonnie Walker, who finished with 17 points.
Although it was not an easy victory, Hapoel controlled the game for all 40 minutes. The team led by Dimitris Itoudis was ahead throughout the entire match, closing the first quarter at 14–26, which set an optimistic tone early on.
As the minutes went by, nothing changed in terms of dominance, and in the second half the double-digit lead for the visitors remained the general trend throughout the game.