The Israeli Winner League playoff final reaches a decisive point tonight, Tuesday at 8:50 p.m., as Hapoel Tel Aviv hosts Game 4 at Menora Mivtachim Arena, trailing 2-1 in the series. After a strong win on Sunday, Hapoel is trying to force a fifth and winner-take-all game in the heated derby final.
Coach Dimitris Itoudis made the key roster change for Hapoel, restoring center Dan Oturu to the squad after he missed recent games because of his return to Israel out of shape and short of game fitness. Oturu replaces Jonathan Motley, who has been less effective in the last two games. Hapoel hopes Oturu, alongside Tai Odiase and a hot Vasilije Micic, will help it control the paint and stop Maccabi’s celebrations.
Maccabi Tel Aviv, coached by Oded Kattash, made no changes and kept the same roster that won the first two games of the series. Lonnie Walker, who again said he was ready to play, was left out for the fifth straight game for professional reasons. Maccabi will again lean on Jaylen Hoard and Jimmy Clark, while Roman Sorkin will try to bounce back after finishing the previous game scoreless.
The atmosphere is expected to be electric, with most of the stands at the arena filled in red. For Maccabi, this is a second chance to win the championship and defend its title, while Hapoel is fighting to save its season and send the series to a final Game 5.
