Maccabi Raanana pulled off a narrow 89–87 road victory over Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan in a tense Ligat HaAl encounter on 13 May 2026. The visitors led for most of the game, but had to withstand a furious late rally from the hosts to secure a vital win in the race for playoff positioning.

Match Overview

Played at Ramat Gan's home arena, the game featured a fast-paced start with both teams shooting well from the field. Maccabi Raanana established control early through excellent ball movement and efficient three-point shooting, taking a 48–42 lead into halftime. Ramat Gan struggled to contain Raanana's pick-and-roll attack, but stayed in touch thanks to strong play from their backcourt.

Key Moments

• Third quarter: Raanana extended its lead to 14 points by the midway point of the third, but Ramat Gan closed the quarter with a 12–2 run to cut the deficit to 68–64 heading into the final period.
• Fourth quarter: Ramat Gan tied the game at 78 with five minutes remaining. The two teams exchanged baskets, and with 30 seconds left, Ramat Gan had a chance to take the lead but missed a three-pointer. Raanana converted a layup on the fast break to go up 89–87. Ramat Gan's final possession ended with a contested jumper that rimmed out.

Tactical Story

Maccabi Raanana's ability to spread the floor with shooters created driving lanes for their guards, who consistently broke down the Ramat Gan defence. Defensively, Raanana switched effectively on screens, but Ramat Gan's sharp shooting in the second half kept the game close. Turnovers proved costly for Ramat Gan, who committed 16 compared to Raanana's 10.

Standout Players

• Maccabi Raanana: Guard Yonatan Cohen led all scorers with 24 points, shooting 6-of-10 from three-point range. Forward Itay Levi added 18 points and 8 rebounds.
• Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan: Point guard Ori Moshe scored 22 points and dished out 7 assists. Center Tal Aviram contributed a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Table and Season Impact

With the win, Maccabi Raanana improves to 16–10, strengthening their hold on a top-four spot. Ramat Gan falls to 13–13, but remain in the playoff race. The result adds extra significance to the upcoming head-to-head meetings between these closely matched sides.