Maccabi Tel Aviv took control of the championship game against Hapoel Tel Aviv, leading 66-50 after three quarters at Menora Hall on June 16, 2026, in a match aired by Sport 5.
The report says many considered Maccabi the underdog entering the night, but it looked different in a title game with so much at stake. Hapoel arrived with strong momentum after excellent form from Vasilije Micic and Yam Madar, yet they failed to show up in the first half.
Jalen הורד continued the form he showed in the series against Hapoel Holon, scoring in a variety of ways and repeatedly finding the basket. Roman Sorkin also stood out inside, while Chris Jones kept Hapoel within reach on the other side.
Maccabi were helped by strong team work around הורד, including 10 offensive rebounds in the first half. Hapoel also hurt itself with 10 turnovers, half of them committed by the Serbian guard. The key question heading into the final stretch is which team will take the first advantage in the finals series.