Hapoel Tel Aviv Stuns Real Madrid in EuroLeague Thriller
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Real Madrid 102-98 in a EuroLeague game.
- Real Madrid suffered their worst-ever EuroLeague season start at 0-3.
- Elijah Bryant starred for Hapoel with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists.
- Real Madrid erased a 22-point deficit before losing in the final moments.
- Spanish media heavily criticized Real Madrid's defensive performance.
Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a dramatic 102-98 victory over Real Madrid in a EuroLeague basketball game, handing the Spanish giants their worst-ever start to a EuroLeague season with a 0-3 record. Real Madrid had managed to overcome a 22-point deficit and even take a late lead, but clutch plays by Hapoel's Elijah Bryant in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the Israeli team.
Bryant was instrumental in the victory, finishing with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, earning him EuroLeague Player of the Week honors. Spanish media outlets, including Marca, were critical of Real Madrid's performance, describing their defense as "ridiculous" and stating that Hapoel "tore Real apart." They noted that Real appeared like "ghosts" in the first half, with Hapoel easily penetrating their defense.
The game saw a significant momentum swing. Hapoel Tel Aviv had built a commanding 67-45 lead early in the third quarter. However, Real Madrid responded with a furious 30-7 run, taking a 75-74 lead. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot contributed with four three-pointers for Hapoel during this period, but the team went cold, failing to score for four minutes, allowing Real to tie the game.
In the final quarter, Bryant took over, crushing Real Madrid's momentum. Coach Pedro Martínez acknowledged that while his team's aggression helped them come back in the second half, their substitutions did not work, and Hapoel played smartly at the end, drawing fouls and securing the win. Martínez urged his team to stop looking for excuses and focus on improvement, emphasizing the need for time and collective effort.
The loss has placed significant pressure on Martínez, who joined Real Madrid after a successful season with Valencia. The Spanish sports newspaper Marca commented that Real's Super Cup win now seems like an illusion given their current form.
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