Maccabi Tel Aviv edged out archrivals Hapoel Tel-Aviv 102-98 in a thrilling Ligat HaAl encounter on June 19, 2026, at Menora Mivtachim Arena. The high-stakes Tel Aviv derby lived up to its billing as both sides traded blows until the final possession, with Maccabi's clutch execution in the closing minutes proving decisive in front of a capacity crowd.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, the intensity was scorching. Hapoel Tel-Aviv came out firing, fueled by their passionate home support, but Maccabi's experienced roster matched them bucket for bucket. The first quarter ended with Maccabi holding a narrow 28-26 lead, setting the tone for a back-and-forth affair. Hapoel surged in the second period, using crisp ball movement and aggressive drives to take a 53-50 advantage into halftime. However, Maccabi responded after the break, tightening their defense and forcing turnovers that led to transition baskets. The third quarter swung back to the visitors, who carried a 78-75 edge into the final frame.

Key Moments

• Fourth-quarter surge: With Hapoel trailing 92-90 with under three minutes left, guard Wade Baldwin IV (who finished with 27 points and 8 assists) drilled a step-back three to push Maccabi's lead to five. Hapoel answered with a quick layup, but Baldwin then found Roman Sorkin for a dunk, making it 97-94 with 1:10 to go.
• Hapoel's missed opportunity: Down 100-98 with 12 seconds remaining, Hapoel's star forward Johnathan Williams — who had 24 points and 10 rebounds — saw his contested floater rim out. Maccabi’s Lorenzo Brown grabbed the rebound and was fouled, calmly sinking two free throws to ice the game.
• Three-point barrage: Both teams combined for 28 made three-pointers, with Hapoel hitting 15 of 34 (44.1%) and Maccabi 13 of 31 (41.9%). Each side used deep threats to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Standout Players

• Wade Baldwin IV (Maccabi Tel Aviv): The MVP candidate delivered a masterful performance, posting 27 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds while shooting 10-of-18 from the field. His leadership in the clutch was the difference.
• Johnathan Williams (Hapoel Tel-Aviv): A double-double machine, Williams had 24 points and 10 rebounds, constantly attacking the offensive glass. His 12 fourth-quarter points nearly stole the win for the hosts.
• Bonus mention: Roman Sorkin (Maccabi) and Xavier Munford (Hapoel) — Sorkin added 18 points and 7 rebounds inside, while Munford poured in 22 points off the bench for Hapoel, including five triples.

Tactical Story

Maccabi’s game plan centered on exploiting mismatches in pick-and-roll, particularly with Baldwin and Sorkin, while Hapoel relied on ball movement and driving lanes. The hosts outrebounded Maccabi 40-36 but committed 14 turnovers to Maccabi’s 10, a key margin in such a tight contest. Hapoel coach Dimitris Itoudis used a zone defense for stretches to slow Maccabi's rhythm, but the visitors' shooters eventually found gaps. Maccabi’s ability to get to the free-throw line (22-of-26, 84.6%) compared to Hapoel’s 16-of-20 (80%) also proved pivotal.

Season and Table Impact

The victory tightened Maccabi Tel Aviv’s grip on second place in the Ligat HaAl standings (currently 18-6), keeping pace with league leader Hapoel Jerusalem. For Hapoel Tel-Aviv, the loss dropped them to 14-10, tied for fourth with Hapoel Holon. The derby result also carries psychological weight as both teams eye potential playoff matchups later in the season. With the regular season entering its final stretch, every head-to-head result matters in determining home-court advantage for the postseason.

This Ligat HaAl classic will be remembered as one of the season's best — a fierce, high-scoring rivalry game that showcased the elite talent in Israeli basketball.