Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv's first week back was a successful one. After the comfortable win earlier this week over Maccabi Ashdod, Giannis Sfairopoulos's squad came away with another one-sided victory 103:65 over Hapoel Holon in their first game of the top table. The Yellow & Blue outscored the visitors 33:8 in the third quarter and never looked back. On Monday, the reigning champions will host Hapoel Jerusalem; a win will most likely secure the first seed.
Scottie Wilbekin, Yovel Zoosman, Deni Avdija, Quincy Acy, and Amar'e Stoudemire opened in Maccabi's starting five. Stoudemire led the Yellow & Blue in the early stages of the game, scoring 6 straight and 9 of the host's first 11 points. However, Jimmy Hall countered with 6 of his own, 11:11. Avdija added 8 first-quarter points opening a 4 point advantage, but Jermaine Love kept the Purples close, and Shlomi Harrush gave the visitors a 22:21 lead after 10 minutes.
Holon's lead didn't last long as Tyler Dorsey hit two free throws, which gave the Yellow & Blue a 1 point advantage. Harush answered on the other end, but then Jake Cohen and Wilbekin were in charge of a 7:0 run, which gave the Yellow & Blue a 31:27 lead. Yogev Ohayon tied the game at 35 with a three-pointer on the buzzer, but from there, Wilbekin took control, scoring 5 straight points and dishing his 7th assist of the first half, which gave Maccabi their largest lead of the night, 47:38. Hall laid it in after grabbing an offensive rebound to close out the half, 47:40 Maccabi.
The Yellow & Blue tightened it up on defense, forcing 4 consecutive turnovers, which led to a 10:0 run, 57:40. Roi Huber halted the bleeding, but the hosts kept hitting from all cylinders opening a 22 point advantage midway through the third quarter, 64:44. The Yellow & Blue went on another run, keeping Holon scoreless for the final 4:30 minutes. Avdija shot his 18th point of the night, Jake Cohen scored 9 straight points, and Dorsey capped a 16:0 spurt with 4 of his own, 80:48 Maccabi after three quarters.
The Yellow & Blue extended their dominance as Acy hit two triples, which led to an 11:0 run, 93:55. Both coaches reached deep into their benches as the hosts spiked the advantage up to 40. Angelo Caloiaro scored Maccabi's 100th point, the Yellow & Blue pass by Holon 103:65.