Real Madrid’s defense was decisive in stopping the Euroleague leader. Hapoel, which scored more than 90 points per evening, stayed at 74 thanks to the outstanding work behind Scariolo’s team. A team that had faltered in that area in recent days was once again firm at the back. He also had a notable Hezonja to add his second victory as a visitor in Europe.
Hapoel is the great story of the Euroleague so far this season. On the verge of concluding his exile – next week, in theory, the matches, his own and those of Maccabi, will be held again in Tel Aviv – he changed Sofia for small Botevgrad, 65 kilometers from the Bulgarian capital. At home they have only lost one game, precisely against Maccabi. The other two losses came against the only two teams, Fenerbahçe and Olympiacos, that left them below 70 points. Madrid is the fourth Spanish rival they have faced and they have massacred the previous three: +16 against Barça with 103 points scored; +7 to Valencia with 100 and +25 to Baskonia with 114. An offensive marvel (92.1 points per game), with seven guys scoring between 7 and 15 points and with good aim. And if that were not enough, a character leading the team. Ofer Yannay is an Israeli renewable energy tycoon who doesn’t like to keep quiet. He was fined by the Euroleague after suggesting that Pedro Martínez’s position in Valencia was in danger; In Vitoria, after winning, he published on social networks “Very tasty Pintxos” and before facing Madrid he said that his team is “the best in the world outside of the NBA” and that the “goal is the Final Four.”
On the bench they have a double European champion, Itoudis, and they have the highest paid player in the competition, Vasilije Micic, who earns 5.6 “kilos” per season and also has shares in the club’s shares. Madrid put the brakes on all of this. With defense and with Hezonja (19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists) more consistent than so far this season. Scariolo’s team mixed seriousness and efficiency. There was exterior success, Abalde, who also scored 11 points, tied up Micic and while they controlled the losses they took control. Itoudis tried with four “little ones” and with the dynamite outside came difficulties. Madrid kept the Hebrews under control until well into the third quarter. Madrid’s defense had not been the same as in the last four games in which they had conceded 91.7 points on average. But Hapoel went on one of those streaks that have turned them into a nightmare for all defenses on the continent. A sequence of triples arrived, Micic woke up and the Greeks took the lead, but Madrid withstood the push to face the last quarter with a minimal advantage.
Maledon and Feliz opened a gap (60-67), but Hapoel’s problem is that it is capable of achieving a favorable set in just one minute that costs other teams half a lifetime. So with three minutes left everything was to be decided. Madrid’s defense was once again important against a rotation of only eight players. Tavares confirmed it with intimidation and Hezonja with a robbery (71-75 at 1:40). Itoudis put the entire arsenal on track. And that includes an interior, Motley, capable of scoring from three. The debate was going to be resolved in the last 60 seconds. Jones missed a three-pointer thanks to another good defense; Deck fought an agonizing rebound and in the final chaos Madrid smiled. Maledon decided wrong; Hezonja, worse and Micic’s desperate final triple was once again well defended. Madrid’s defense stopped the leader.
74. Hapoel Tel Aviv (18+18+22+16): Jones (14), Micic (8), Bryant (13), Wainright (6) and Oturu (6) – starting quintet – Motley (9) Blackeney (14) and Malcolm (3).
75. Real Madrid (22+17+21+15): Campazzo (11), Abalde (11), Okeke (0), Hezonja (19) and Tavares (4) – starting quintet – Lyles (2), Maledon (6), Deck (9), Garuba (4), Llull (3) and Feliz (6).
Referees: Radovic (Cro), Sukys (Lit) and Boubert (Fra). Abalde eliminated. Technique to Malcolm.
Incidents: 3,200 spectators at the Botevgrad Arena. Match corresponding to the thirteenth day of the Endesa League.
13th day: Dubai Basketball, 90-Paris Basketball, 89; Fenerbahçe, 66-Virtus Bologna, 64; Hapoel Tel Aviv, 74-Real Madrid, 75; Zalgiris Kaunas, 82-Baskonia, 67; Panathinaikos, 91-Partizan, 69; Valencia, 90-Bayern Munich, 64; Maccabi Tel Aviv-Armani Milan (18:00); Red Star-Olympiacos (19:30); Monaco-Anadolu Efes (19:30) and Barcelona-ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:30).
Classification (wins/losses): 1. Hapoel Tel Aviv (9/4); 2. Panathinaikos (9/4); 3. Olympiacos (8/4); 4. Red Star (8/4); 5. Zalgiris Kaunas (8/5); 6. Valencia Basket (8/5); 7. Fenerbahçe (8/5); 8. Monaco (7/5); 9. Barcelona (7/5); 10. Real Madrid (7/6); 11. Monaco (6/6); 12. Virtus Bologna (6/7); 13. Dubai Basketball (6/7); 14. Anadolu Efes (5/7); 15. Paris Basketball (5/8); 16. Bayern Munich (5/8); 17. Kosner Baskonia (4/9); 18. Partizan (4/9); 18. Maccabi Tel Aviv (3/9); 20. ASVEL Villeurbanne (3/9).