Maccabi Tel Aviv on the verge of the final after taking 2-0 lead over Hapoel Holon

Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Hapoel Holon on Friday at 3:00 p.m. at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Game 3 of their playoff semifinal, needing one more win to reach the Winner League final. The Yellow-and-Blue lead the best-of-five series 2-0 and are aiming to complete a sweep today.

Maccabi won the previous game in Holon 84-74, led by Jalen Hord, who produced 30 points and 15 rebounds. The club wants to avoid a return trip to Toto Hall and set up a high-profile final against Hapoel Tel Aviv for the championship.

Coach Oded Katash will again be short-handed. Tamir Blatt, who was injured in Game 2 and has a calf tear, is expected to miss at least the rest of the series. Lonnie Walker, one of Maccabi’s key players this season, remains out as well and has not been included in the roster since the series began. On the positive side, Jimmy Clark has returned to the squad after missing six games because of injury.

Holon is also missing a major player, Trey Croft, who has an abdominal injury. For Holon, anything other than a win ends its season. Maccabi also remembers last year, when the playoffs were not completed because of the war and the league finished without a champion. If Maccabi wins, the final against Hapoel Tel Aviv will be a best-of-five series, with the first team to reach three wins claiming the title.