Full Breakdown
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv Face Off in Euroleague Action
3/30/2026, 10:43:25 PM
Maccabi Tel Aviv Secures Overtime Victory
Maccabi Tel Aviv achieved a significant 104-100 overtime victory against Dubai in a Euroleague matchup, marking their first time over .500 this season with a record of 17-16. The team, coached by Oded Katash, is now positioned 11th, just outside the Play-In spots. Jimmy Clark led Maccabi with 23 points and 10 assists, while Oshae Brissett contributed 19 points and Jaylen Hoard added 15 points. In contrast, Dubai's McKinley Wright scored 26 points, Mfiondu Kabengele added 24 points, and Dwayne Bacon scored 16 points in the losing effort. Katash commented on the win, expressing surprise at their scoring despite not playing their best basketball.
Hapoel Tel Aviv Suffers Record Loss
In a contrasting outcome, Hapoel Tel Aviv fell to Baskonia 118-109, suffering their worst defensive performance of the season. This loss dropped Hapoel to 20-13, placing them fifth in the Euroleague standings. The game was notable for its high-scoring nature, with both teams combining for a record 131 points in the first half, surpassing the previous Euroleague record of 125 points. Elijah Bryant led Hapoel with 26 points, while Daniel Oturu and Antonio Blakeney added 21 and 19 points, respectively. Baskonia's Trent Forrest was pivotal, scoring 22 points and contributing to a balanced team effort that included multiple players scoring in double digits.
Coaches' Perspectives
Hapoel Tel Aviv's head coach, Dimitris Itoudis, acknowledged the team's defensive shortcomings, stating, “Giving up 118 points is a terrible result. We didn’t convince our players to play much better defense.” He took responsibility for the loss, emphasizing the need for improved hustle and defensive effort. Itoudis also noted the impact of playing without fans, which he believes detracts from the sport, although he did not attribute the loss solely to this factor.
Baskonia's victory ended an eight-game losing streak, lifting them to a record of 10-24. The team’s coach praised their strong start and defensive adjustments that allowed them to maintain control in the second half.
What's Next
Hapoel Tel Aviv will seek to rebound in their upcoming match against Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, while Baskonia will face Real Madrid in their next game. Both teams are looking to solidify their positions as the Euroleague season approaches its conclusion.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We didn’t play the right way, and I am surprised we scored more than 100 points, but we found a way to win it.” — Oded Katash, Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach
- “Giving up 118 points is a terrible result. We didn’t convince our players to play much better defense, play aggressively, use the fouls more, and be intelligent to stop them from making plays. Baskonia deserved the win.” — Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel Tel Aviv Head Coach
- “They started the game very strong and finished strong on both ends of the floor.” — Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel Tel Aviv Head Coach
