Maccabi Tel Aviv Suffers Shock Overtime Loss to Rishon LeZion

Maccabi Tel Aviv experienced an unexpected setback on Saturday, losing 93-90 in overtime to Maccabi Rishon LeZion in a Winner League game. The defeat, which came after two previous easy wins, highlighted several issues for Maccabi Tel Aviv just before a demanding EuroLeague week. The team had hoped to use the domestic league game to manage player fatigue, but the game quickly turned into a struggle.

"We thought it would go well and be secure. No game is easy, no game is comfortable. Not even in the league. We weren't good and they simply did what they wanted. We couldn't stop their flow and run, and we lost our way of playing," a club source stated. The team's performance was marred by 18 turnovers, a poor 8-of-38 shooting from three-point range, and only four players scoring in double figures. Rishon LeZion established a significant lead in the second quarter, ending it with a 29-17 advantage by dictating the pace and capitalizing on Maccabi's mistakes.

Coach Oded Katash acknowledged the difficulty, citing the team's schedule and the fatigue of their guards. He credited Rishon LeZion for playing aggressively and at a high tempo. "We opened well, but according to their defensive plan, we missed many shots, tried to do many things by force which caused many turnovers, the body language on the bench wasn't good. We need to know how to get through tough minutes and stay calm. We weren't calm offensively, which led to their running game in the first half," Katash explained.

Maccabi Tel Aviv fell behind by as many as 20 points but managed a comeback, demonstrating resilience. However, Rishon LeZion largely controlled the game, forcing Maccabi to play catch-up. "We dug ourselves into a hole in the second half," Katash added. "We found the strength to come back, switched to a lineup with more forwards, and it worked for us. We had effort in the second half and that helped. We will experience such days in the league. The first two games, I think, were misleading in their results; the league will present challenges, and today was one of them."

Roman Sorkin led the comeback effort with a double-double of 23 points and 10 assists, after scoring eight points in the first half. Yam Madar also recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, nearly achieving a triple-double. Keton Wallace, who had been underperforming, scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in the fourth quarter, while Jalen Hurd contributed 13 points and 7 rebounds. Notably, Wallace, John DiBartolomeo, and Bonzie Colson failed to score in the first three quarters.

The absence of guard Ife Lundberg continued to impact the team, particularly in game management and guard workload, though it wasn't the sole reason for the loss. Beyond performance, frustration was evident on Maccabi's bench, with players appearing sluggish and confused. The tension culminated in a physical altercation between Jalen Hurd and Will Rayman late in the third quarter, requiring intervention from teammates. "Body language was less than ideal, and we need to emphasize that more. It's also a mental issue. Everyone likes playing with each other, and only together can we overcome the tasks and difficulties ahead. There are days like this, and we need to get through them together," Katash said.

Katash downplayed the incident between Hurd and Rayman, calling it normal and mental, attributing it to individual pressures and expectations. "Everyone carries a lot. Everyone has a reason to be impatient to some extent with what we're going through. They'll be fine, I'm sure they've cleared things up already. You can find reasons for it; some players aren't integrating well, aren't finding their rhythm, perhaps players expected to play more minutes," he stated.

Despite completing their comeback and even taking a lead in overtime, Maccabi Tel Aviv faltered again with turnovers and poor decision-making in crucial moments, allowing Rishon LeZion to secure the surprising victory. The team quickly left the arena with palpable disappointment, hoping the loss will spur a strong reaction in upcoming games.