Hapoel's third-quarter surge downs Madrid 76-69
Hapoel orchestrated a stunning turnaround against Madrid, securing a 76-69 victory powered by a decisive third-quarter surge. Madrid had held a slim 34-36 lead at the half, but the tide turned dramatically. Hapoel outscored their visitors 21-10 in the third period, flipping a two-point deficit into a commanding 55-46 advantage entering the final frame. This momentum shift was underpinned by superior field goal shooting, with Hapoel converting 44% to Madrid's 38%, and a significant rebounding edge, as Hapoel grabbed 44 boards to Madrid's 33. While Madrid's bench provided a substantial 44 points, Hapoel's offensive efficiency, led by Elijah Bryant's 19 points and 9 rebounds, and Chris Jones's 19 points off the bench, proved pivotal. Reserve Kessler Edwards also contributed significantly with 10 rebounds. Despite Madrid's 17 assists and 12 made three-pointers, they couldn't recover from the third-quarter lapse, ultimately falling on the road.