Hapoel Tel Aviv Secures Thrilling EuroLeague Victory Over Real Madrid

Hapoel Tel Aviv concluded a perfect double week in the EuroLeague by defeating Real Madrid 102-98 in a dramatic and back-and-forth game. The Israeli team built a commanding 20-point lead by halftime, but Real Madrid mounted a significant comeback in the second half, even taking the lead at one point. Hapoel Tel Aviv managed to regroup in the fourth quarter to secure the hard-fought victory.

Following the game, coach Dimitris Itoudis praised his players, stating, "With all due respect to Real, and there is a lot of respect, it felt like we beat them twice tonight." He acknowledged a perfect first half but noted a lapse in concentration and poor decisions allowed Real Madrid back into the game. Itoudis emphasized the team's need to show character, which they did, building momentum for future games against strong opponents like Real Madrid and Crvena Zvezda.

Itoudis also highlighted the contribution of Kadyn Carrington, who played a different role effectively and made crucial defensive plays. Player Elijah Bryant described the game as a "game of runs," stressing the importance of sticking to the game plan and executing. He mentioned focusing on taking Tavares out of the paint and the team's effective ball movement leading to the win.

Another player, Itoudis, also commented on the game, admitting that the team allowed Real Madrid to come back too easily in the third quarter and that this is an area needing improvement. He stressed the need for consistent 40-minute performances in the highly competitive EuroLeague, acknowledging that while the win was crucial, there is still significant room for improvement. The team's ability to win both games in the double week, especially after a less than ideal start to the season, was seen as very important.