Maccabi Tel Aviv (1–2) secured its first win of the 2025–26 EuroLeague season in historic fashion, defeating city rival Hapoel Tel Aviv (2–1) 103–90 in the competition’s first-ever Tel Aviv derby on Wednesday at Arena 8888 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The win marked a key breakthrough for Oded Kattash’s team, which had dropped its opening two games. After Hapoel’s Chris Jones tied the score at 72 early in the fourth quarter, Jeff Dowtin Jr. took over, scoring 11 straight points to give Maccabi full control.
Lonnie Walker led Maccabi with 20 points and four assists, while Oshae Brissett added 19 on near-perfect shooting. Dowtin scored all 13 of his points in the final period, helping Maccabi close the game on a 31–20 run.
Hapoel, which entered the night unbeaten, was paced by Elijah Bryant’s 18 points. Antonio Blakeney had 16, while Chris Jones and Vit Krejci each contributed 12. Despite their efforts, Hapoel struggled with turnovers, finishing with 16 compared to Maccabi’s 12.
Jaylen Hoard, Roman Sorkin, and Tamir Blatt each scored in double figures for Maccabi, combining for 36 points. Blatt also dished seven assists, continuing his steady playmaking form. T.J. Leaf provided valuable minutes off the bench, scoring nine points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting.
Maccabi’s offensive balance and improved ball movement proved decisive. The team recorded 24 assists, showing greater cohesion compared to its earlier losses. The chemistry between Walker, Brissett, and Dowtin—three of Maccabi’s new arrivals—was evident in key stretches.
Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis’ side couldn’t sustain its rhythm in the second half after a strong start. The team shot 34.6% from three-point range and 70.8% from the line, while Maccabi hit 58.3% from deep and 78.9% from the stripe.
Maccabi will next face FC Barcelona and Olympiacos Piraeus in back-to-back EuroLeague matchups next week. Hapoel will aim to rebound when it hosts AS Monaco in Round 4.
