Maccabi Tel Aviv Suffers Fifth EuroLeague Loss to Real Madrid

Maccabi Tel Aviv experienced their fifth EuroLeague defeat of the season, losing 113-99 at home in Belgrade to Real Madrid on Thursday. The loss dropped the Israeli team to a 5-2 record, placing them 16th in the standings. Maccabi started the game strongly, mirroring their performance against Valencia, and held a significant 15-point lead with energetic play and solid defense. However, Real Madrid began to close the gap in the second quarter, and the teams went into halftime with Maccabi leading by only one point.

Coach Oded Katash acknowledged the strong start but noted the team's inability to slow down Real Madrid's offense, which he described as a "machine." He pointed to Real Madrid's effective shooting, including numerous three-pointers and offensive rebounds, as key factors. "We struggled to slow them down," Katash stated, also mentioning fatigue, particularly among the guards, as a contributing factor in the second half. He added that while they could have avoided some of Real Madrid's shots, the Spanish team found ways to score even against good defense.

Real Madrid, who set a club record with 21 three-pointers made, took control in the third quarter and extended their lead to as many as 20 points in the fourth. Sources close to the club suggested Maccabi took "too many early shots" and lost their team rhythm. They contrasted Maccabi's inability to maintain stability with Real Madrid's consistent performance and increased defensive pressure, which targeted Maccabi's younger guards.

Jalen Hurd commented that the team stopped moving the ball effectively under the basket, a recurring issue. "We need to move the ball like we did against Valencia," he said, emphasizing the need to find ways to win despite challenges. Jimmy Clark led Maccabi with 20 points, while Bonzie Colson added 19 points, including five three-pointers. Yann Mader scored 14 points, and Oshea Brissett and Jalen Hurd each contributed 10 points. Daniel Theis had a strong start with 9 points but faded in the second half.

The absence of injured player Efe Loundberg was felt, impacting the team's offensive creativity and guard fatigue. The club is reportedly seeking to sign a new guard, with experienced Serbian guard Nemanja Nedovic being considered. Maccabi's next game is a road match against Maccabi Rishon LeZion on Saturday night.