Maccabi Tel Aviv Falls to Real Madrid After 15-Point Lead

Maccabi Tel Aviv suffered a disappointing 113-99 loss to Real Madrid in Belgrade on Thursday, despite holding a 15-point lead earlier in the game. The defeat, following the seventh round of the EuroLeague, leaves the team coached by Oded Katash with a 5-2 record in the competition.

Coach Katash expressed his frustration with the high number of points conceded, noting that Real Madrid had an exceptional shooting night. He highlighted that while his team executed well offensively in the first half, fatigue became apparent in the second half, leading to players "falling off their feet." The absence of player Ifa Lundberg due to injury was cited as a factor that strained the guard rotation and disrupted the team's flow.

Regarding player Kiton Wallace's adaptation to European basketball, Katash acknowledged the player's desire to learn but noted he is overthinking his game. The coach also addressed speculation about Nemanja Nedovic, stating that the player is on the team's list and that decisions will be made in consultation with management, including Claudio Coldebella.

In the post-game press conference, Katash reiterated that the team started strong offensively but needs defensive improvements, particularly in boxing out. He acknowledged Real Madrid's quality and intensity, stating that they played exceptionally well to secure the win. Player Oshey Brissett, who scored 10 points, echoed the sentiment of disappointment, emphasizing the need for the team to learn from the contrasting halves and improve their performance when opponents are scoring effectively.