Hapoel Tel Aviv clinches Euroleague playoff berth with derby W over Maccabi in Serbia

In a thrilling Euroleague derby clash held in Belgrade, Hapoel Tel Aviv has clinched a coveted playoff berth, triumphing over arch-rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv with a decisive 99-88 victory. The win propels Hapoel into the postseason, where they will now vie for home-court advantage against Monaco in the Principality next week.

The game saw Hapoel establish an early lead, driven by strong performances from Dan Oturu, Vasilije Micic, and Elijah Bryant. Despite Maccabi's efforts to stay close, spearheaded by Lonnie Walker, Hapoel maintained control, extending their lead to 52-41 by halftime thanks to crucial points from Tai Odiase and Chris Jones. In the second half, Antonio Blakeney found his rhythm, but it was Collin Malcolm's unstoppable play down the stretch that sealed the victory for Hapoel.

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We still have one more game to go and want to get into the best position but we are playing a very good team as well in our last game. Every game was a challenge and still is a challenge. We never lost a spot in the playoff race and we want people to see the truth. We’re proud so far but the show must continue.

Elijah Bryant led Hapoel's scoring with 19 points, complemented by Malcolm's 16 and Blakeney's 14. For Maccabi, Walker contributed 17 points, with Oshae Brissett and Roman Sorkin adding 15 and 13 points respectively. Hapoel coach Dimitrios Itoudis reflected on the win, stating, "We still have one more game to go and want to get into the best position but we are playing a very good team as well in our last game. Every game was a challenge and still is a challenge. We never lost a spot in the playoff race and we want people to see the truth. We’re proud so far but the show must continue."

Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Oded Katash acknowledged his team's improved play in the second half, noting, "I liked how we played in the second half as we made things more difficult for them. We came off a very tough week and we played against a very talented team in this game." Despite the loss, Katash recently signed a three-year contract extension, signaling his continued commitment to the team.

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I liked how we played in the second half as we made things more difficult for them. We came off a very tough week and we played against a very talented team in this game.