The Maccabi Rishon Le Zion squad turned in a dominant performance at home on May 24, 2026, powering past Maccabi Raanana with a convincing 93–78 victory in Ligat HaAl action. The win solidified the home side’s standing among the league’s elite, while the visitors were left searching for answers after a disjointed second-half display.

Match overview

From the opening tip, Rishon Le Zion established an aggressive tempo, pushing the ball in transition and attacking the paint. Their defensive intensity forced Raanana into tough perimeter shots, and by halftime the hosts had built a comfortable 11-point lead that they never relinquished. The final quarter saw Rishon Le Zion stretch the margin to as many as 19 points before Raanana managed a modest late rally in garbage time.

Key moments

• First-quarter blitz: Rishon Le Zion opened with a 13–4 run in the first five minutes, fueled by back-to-back three-pointers from their starting guard.
• Second-quarter response: Raanana briefly cut the deficit to six, but a 9–0 run by the hosts before halftime effectively broke the visitors’ resistance.
• Third-quarter dagger: A thunderous fast-break dunk at the 4:30 mark of the third period pushed the lead to 18, forcing a Raanana timeout that could not stem the tide.
• Fourth-quarter cruise: Rishon Le Zion’s bench maintained the intensity, allowing the starters to rest for the final four minutes.

Tactical story

Rishon Le Zion’s game plan revolved around high-pressure pick-and-roll defense and quick transition offense. They harassed Raanana’s primary ball handlers into nine first-half turnovers and converted those mistakes into 16 points on the other end. Offensively, the home team shot an efficient 52% from the field, including 11-of-28 from beyond the arc, while dominating the glass with a 42–31 rebounding advantage. Raanana struggled to find consistent scoring outside of individual efforts, finishing with only 12 assists as a team.

Standout players

• Rishon Le Zion’s leading scorer – The home side’s shooting guard poured in 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting, adding six rebounds and four assists. His ability to score at all three levels kept the Raanana defense off balance.
• Paint presence – Rishon Le Zion’s starting center recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, anchoring the interior on both ends with three blocked shots.
• Raanana’s top performer – Despite the loss, Maccabi Raanana’s small forward fought hard for 22 points and 8 rebounds, often creating his own shot when the team offense stagnated.

Season impact

With the win, Rishon Le Zion improved to 18–9 on the season, strengthening their hold on third place in the Ligat HaAl standings. The victory also extended their home winning streak to six games. For Raanana, the loss dropped them to 12–15, leaving them on the edge of the playoff picture with just three regular-season games remaining. The result further emphasized the gap between the league’s upper tier and the chasing pack.