In a high-stakes Euroleague clash that crackled with local rivalry, Hapoel Tel Aviv secured their playoff ticket with a commanding 99-88 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv. The iconic derby, uniquely staged in Belgrade, saw Hapoel's depth and clutch performance prove decisive in sealing their postseason fate.

The game unfolded as a strategic battle, with Hapoel building an early foundation. Dan Oturu, Vasilije Micic, and Elijah Bryant propelled the Reds to a fast start, though Maccabi's Oshae Brissett, Will Rayman, and Roman Sorkin kept pace. A strong push before halftime, fueled by Tai Odiase and Chris Jones, gave Hapoel a significant 52-41 lead at the break.

The second half became a showcase for individual brilliance. Antonio Blakeney caught fire for Hapoel, finding his scoring rhythm, while Maccabi's Lonnie Walker IV answered with timely buckets to keep the yellow-and-blue within striking distance. However, the final stretch belonged to Hapoel's Collin Malcolm, whose unstoppable play down the stretch extinguished Maccabi's comeback hopes and iced the game.

Statistically, Hapoel's balanced attack was key. Elijah Bryant led all scorers with 19 points, supported by Collin Malcolm's 16 and Antonio Blakeney's 14. For Maccabi, Lonnie Walker IV fought hard with 17 points, followed by Roman Sorkin with 15 and Oshae Brissett with 13.

The win locks Hapoel into the Euroleague playoffs, shifting their focus to seeding. "We still have one more game to go," said Hapoel coach Dimitrios Itoudis. "We want to get into the best position... We're proud so far but the show must continue." Their final regular-season test is a major one: a road game against AS Monaco to battle for home-court advantage.

Despite the defeat, Maccabi coach Oded Katash found positives. "I liked how we played in the second half," he noted. "We came off a very tough week and we played against a very talented team." The loss concludes a challenging stretch for the club as they look to regroup.