Maccabi cruises, Hapoel rallies as Tel Aviv basketball derby looms

Maccabi Tel Aviv delivered a commanding performance, crushing Bnei Herzliya 137-75 in a game that saw eight players score in double figures. The dominant display sets a strong tone for Maccabi as they head into the playoffs.

“

This was a good game that we began properly from both sides of the court. We didn’t expect to win by this gap but we are really playing and doing things well ahead of the playoffs. The Israeli league is different than the Euroleague, and we are really getting into that groove.

The league's recent round of games was somberly overshadowed by the death of Raz Adam, an Israeli guard for Hapoel Galil Elyon, who passed away at 26 in a car accident. Tributes and condolences have been shared across the league.

Oded Katash, Maccabi's coach, expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, noting their strong start and effective play leading up to the postseason. He particularly praised the return of Gur Lavy from injury, highlighting his importance as an Israeli player.

“

Gur Lavy coming back is great, and he’s an excellent player. He’s a quality player and an Israeli, and we missed a player for this position as we also didn’t have TJ Leaf for some time.

Herzliya coach Yehu Orland acknowledged his team's struggles, stating the need for significant improvement before the playoffs commence. Meanwhile, the focus is shifting to an upcoming make-up game between the league's top two teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv.

“

The summary of the game was clear, and we didn’t have a good performance, and we have to improve before we begin the playoffs.

Gur Lavy, reflecting on his return to action, also took a moment to remember Raz Adam, emphasizing how much he will be missed. The team is focused on depth and readiness for the playoffs.

“

I want to talk about Raz Adam and how much we will miss him. The staff did a great job to get me back to action. We have a lot of depth and we will be ready for the playoffs.