In game 4 of the Israeli league quarter-final series, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv in a tough battle on the pitch. After a thrilling ending, Maccabi won with the final score of 82-77 (11-22, 24-21, 20-10, 27-24) and qualified for the semi-finals where they will face Bnei Herzeliya Basket.

2 points this season

Scottie Wilbekin was the most efficient player for the winners, having 28 points (2/6 2PT, 5/12 3PT, 9/10 FT), 6 assists, 3 rebounds and 31 PIR.

Derrick Williams helped him with 25 points (5/8 2PT, 5/6 3PT, 0/2 FT), 9 rebounds and 26 PIR.

On the opposing side, J’Covan Brown was Hapoel Tel Aviv‘s top scorer, finishing with 23 points (4/9 2PT, 4/6 3 PT, 3/3 FT), 6 assists and 27 PIR.

Maccabi started the fourth quarter on a high and after four straight three-pointers extended their lead to 10 points (67-57).

Hapoel managed to reduce the deficit to 4 points (66-70) with 4:19 to go.

Derrick Williams responded with a stab from long range (73-66). There were 4 hours left on the meter. After a few successful possessions, Hapoel reduced the deficit to 3 points (74-77) with 1:19 to go. Scottie Wilbekin sank both shots from the charity strip at the other end and the Israeli champions were ahead by 5 (79-74) with 1:04 to play.

Hapoel responded with a long hat-trick (77-79), but Oz Blayzer made two free throws (81-77) for Maccabi with 14 seconds left.

The hosts’ last possession was out of place and Maccabi got a very tough W.

After the opening minutes of the tied game, powered by Idan Zalmanson, Hapoel went 16-2 midway through the first quarter and took a double-digit (22-11) lead after the first period.

The hosts didn’t slow down in the second quarter and after hat-tricks from J’Covan Brown and Bar Timor took the game’s biggest lead (37-21).

The EuroLeague team responded at the end of the second count. Derrick Williams and Scottie Wilbekin-led Maccabi staged a 14-4 push to reduce their deficit to single digits (35-43).

It was, however, a different story in the third quarter. Maccabi went on a huge 11-0 run to regain the lead (51-47), and the game gained a whole new color scheme.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv: Scottie Wilbekin 28 (6 AST), Derrick Williams 25 (9 CER), Roman Sorkin 10 (12 REB).

Hapoel Tel Aviv: I Covan Brown 23 (6 AST), Idan Zalmanson 17 (6 REB, 4 AST), JP Tokoto 13 (8 REB).