Maccabi Tel Aviv Dominates Hapoel Galil Elyon in League Opener

Maccabi Tel Aviv began their 2026/27 Israeli Basketball Premier League season with a decisive 120-93 victory over Hapoel Galil Elyon at Menora Mivtachim Arena. This marked the team's third consecutive win across all competitions, coming just before a challenging double-header week in the EuroLeague. Maccabi established an early, overwhelming lead, setting an all-time record for points in the first quarter of a Premier League game with a 41-10 advantage. The momentum carried through to the third quarter, where Maccabi's lead peaked at 46 points. However, they eased up in the latter part of the game, allowing Galil Elyon to cut the deficit by half, with Galil winning the final quarter by 18 points.

Several Maccabi players reached double-digit scoring, including Yam Madar, who played limited minutes, and TJ Leaf and Kiton Wallace, who scored 14 and 15 points respectively. Captain John DiBartolomeo, returning from a recent absence, contributed 15 points in 19 minutes, including a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc. Jalen Hurd did not play.

"We started very well, this is probably one of our best openings, the momentum from the EuroLeague continued today," said Wallace post-game. "Our intensity changed, we started the game very well, we need to keep loading games, it's a process, we are finding our rhythm and our defensive flow. We are more active, we will continue to work and be ready for the next game." Wallace also praised the home crowd, expressing hope for the EuroLeague's return to Tel Aviv.