Real Madrid secured a place in the EuroLeague Final Four after defeating Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv 87-81 in Game 4 at Arena Botevgrad, closing out a physically demanding series with a controlled second-half performance.
The night began poorly for the Spanish side, as they failed to hit a field goal in the opening three and a half minutes and trailed 11-2 while Dan Oturu imposed himself early with 10 quick points. Real were briefly on the ropes after a sluggish offensive start that echoed their Game 3 struggles.
Momentum shifted through Mario Hezonja, who scored three baskets in roughly 150 seconds to steady Real’s offense and erase the early deficit. His burst slowed Hapoel’s rhythm and allowed Madrid to re-enter the game with structure.
The turning point arrived with a second-unit surge. Theo Maledon and Andres Feliz orchestrated a decisive 0-17 run spanning the end of the first quarter and the start of the second. Feliz capped the sequence with a no-look behind-the-back assist to Usman Garuba for a dunk that shifted control to Real.
By halftime, Madrid led 36-46, with a key statistical contrast emerging. Hapoel’s entire scoring output came from their starting five, while Real balanced production almost evenly between starters and bench, highlighting their depth advantage.
Usman Garuba delivered a standout performance with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks while battling Oturu throughout the game. Oturu responded with a dominant 29 points in 33 minutes, but efficiency proved decisive as Real shot 26-of-42 on two-point attempts compared to Hapoel’s 22-of-50.
The decisive stretch came late when Feliz and Garuba connected again, this time for a cutting layup that pushed the lead to 68-79 inside the final two minutes, effectively sealing the outcome.
Real’s bench finished with a major impact across the series decider. Maledon added 14 points, Feliz contributed 9 points and 5 assists, and the bench unit outscored the starters 51-36 in a complete team display.
Real Madrid now move into the Final Four with depth, balance, and late-game execution defining their path through a demanding series.
