Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv refused to let its season end quietly, delivering a dramatic turnaround that forced a Game 4 against Real Madrid with a 76-69 win in Botevgrad.
After back-to-back losses in Spain, the Israeli club needed a response and found it in a decisive third-quarter surge that changed everything.
That moment came out of nowhere, flipping a four-point deficit into a double-digit lead with a 16-0 run that stunned Real Madrid and reshaped the series.
The run was fueled by balanced execution, with Vasilije Micic, Elijah Bryant and Dan Oturu each scoring twice while Chris Jones added a three-pointer.
More importantly, Hapoel paired scoring with elite defensive resistance, holding Real scoreless for nearly seven minutes during that stretch.
Kessler Edwards, who joined the team in February, finished with just five points but controlled the interior with 10 rebounds while adding a steal and a block in nearly 30 minutes.
For Real Madrid, the loss continued a troubling pattern away from home, where the team now holds a 6-14 record.
The Spanish side shot just 44.8% on two-pointers and 33.3% from three while committing 12 turnovers.
Hapoel now returns to the same floor with momentum and belief, needing another win Thursday to push the series to a deciding Game 5.
