A 31-8 run in the final period assured Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv a 96-79 win over Hapoel Ariel Tel Aviv in game one of the playoffs finals. This was Maccabi’s seventh win in the Tel Aviv Derby this season.
Hapoel players took advantage of a very mediocre performance of their rivals and led 27-22 at the end of the forst quarter, 49-44 at half time and 71-65 at the end of the third period. In the final quarter we saw the Euroleague champions at their best. They opened with a 16-0 run and the tiring Reds had no response.
Hapoel had a clear advantage in the 3 pts shooting with 10-22 to Maccabi’s 2-11. Hapoel shot 73% in FT to Maccabi’s 79% but the Yellows were superior in 2 pts FG (58% to 42%). Maccabi had a slight advantage in rebounds 38-36.
Two players were outstanding: Nikola Vujcic scored 34 pts in 32 minutes with 73% FG. Pulled down 9 rbds and dished out 4 assists. Maceo Baston scored 19 pts, grabbed 19 rbds and made 2 bsts.