Onto the EuroLeague Final Four

Real Madrid will be present in the Final Four in Athens, its fourth in five years and the eleventh since 2011, after defeating Hapoel Tel Aviv in the fourth game played in Bulgaria, closing the series with a 3-1 aggregate. Scariolo's team shone defensively and showed solidity in attack when the opponent pushed hardest, with a standout performance from Garuba (16 points and a PIR of 20) and the best version of Maledon (14 points and a PIR of 18), who led seven players scoring between 7 and 16 points. Their semifinal opponent will be the winner of the Valencia Basket-Panathinaikos matchup.

Hapoel Tel Aviv started stronger. With Micic orchestrating and Oturu dominating in the paint (10 points), the home team took the initiative with a 13-4 run in the first five minutes. Scariolo brought in Garuba, and Madrid shifted the momentum of the game. The power forward transformed the team, increasing their aggressiveness and dominance on the boards. The ball movement became more fluid, and their shooting improved. Hezonja (7 points), Campazzo, and Okeke (5) led a strong comeback to close the first quarter ahead with two consecutive baskets from Maledon, completing an 18-9 run in their favor (21-23, min. 10).

Madrid takes off and holds on
Our team stepped up their defense, forcing continuous turnovers from the opponent, with a complete performance from Garuba, who was omnipresent on the court, contributing steals, rebounds, and blocks. Another positive note was the offensive contribution from players like Feliz and Lyles. Hapoel was overwhelmed by our team's best minutes in Bulgaria. An opening 0-13 run extended to 0-17 over four minutes, putting the score at 21-36 in the 13th minute.

But Itoudis' team managed to extinguish the fire. They momentarily regained control of the rebounds and forced our team into several rushed plays. With contributions from Madar, Oturu, and a bit of Bryant, the home team responded to close the gap to just 5 points in the final stretch. It was Feliz who stepped up to counter the opponent's surge, while Campazzo capped off an excellent first half by breaking Timor's ankles and finishing with a three-pointer (36-46).

Maledon's show
Madrid went through an offensive slump during much of the third quarter but maintained their defensive focus. This allowed them to fend off Hapoel Tel Aviv, who relied heavily on Micic and free throws during a period where they went to the line seven more times than our team. However, a player always stepped up to contribute and keep the home team at bay. Five points from Maledon, who delivered a masterclass in driving to the basket, helped Madrid enter the final stretch with a +10 lead (53-63, min. 30).

Team effort seals the series
Hapoel tried as a great team would, but they lacked real chances to get back into the game despite outstanding performances from Micic and Oturu (47 points combined). Madrid's solid display as a team, where everyone contributed and showcased their strength, left no room for doubt. Lyles, Deck, Campazzo with a 2+1, Hezonja, and Garuba, who despite finger issues from the previous game, gave his all until the final second. Madrid built a 15-point lead entering the fourth quarter and left no options for the Israeli team (81-87, min. 40).

Statistics of Hapoel Tel Aviv-Real Madrid

Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.