Let’s start from the bottom line. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Beer Sheva 82-77, sealed the quarterfinals series at 3-0, and advanced to Winner’s League semifinals. However, the Yellows will need to elevate their game for the challenges that lie ahead, as today’s performance did not live up to expectations.

Similar to the first two games in the series, Oded Kattash’s players struggled to find their rhythm from beyond the arc, converting only 8 of their 35 three-point attempts. Nevertheless, Maccabi compensated for this deficiency by dominating the rebounding department, particularly on the offensive end, where they secured 18 crucial rebounds. Additionally, their strong defensive play during clutch moments played a pivotal role in the victory.

Lorenzo Brown was again Maccabi’s go-to guy, with 14 points and 7 assists. He led a group of five players who reached double figures in scoring. Looking ahead, the semifinals will commence on Tuesday, with the Yellows hosting Hapoel Holon for a crucial Game 1 in a best-of-three series.