Real Madrid punched their ticket to the EuroLeague Final Four by defeating Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv 87-81 in Game 4 at Arena Botevgrad, finishing a grueling series with a composed second-half performance.
The Spanish powerhouse endured a rough start, failing to make a field goal in the opening three and a half minutes and falling behind 11-2 as Dan Oturu powered to 10 quick points. The slow offensive start mirrored their Game 3 woes, briefly putting Real on the back foot.
Mario Hezonja sparked the turnaround, netting three baskets in roughly two and a half minutes to stabilize the attack and erase the early deficit. His burst disrupted Hapoel’s rhythm and allowed Madrid to regain structure.
The game’s decisive shift came from the bench. Theo Maledon and Andres Feliz orchestrated a blistering 0-17 run spanning the end of the first quarter and the start of the second. Feliz capped the surge with a no-look, behind-the-back assist to Usman Garuba for a dunk that swung momentum firmly in Madrid’s favor.
By halftime, Real led 36-46, revealing a stark statistical contrast: Hapoel’s entire scoring came from their starters, while Madrid shared production almost equally between starters and reserves, underscoring their depth advantage.
Usman Garuba delivered a standout performance with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks while battling Oturu throughout. Oturu countered with a dominant 29 points in 33 minutes, but efficiency proved pivotal as Real shot 26-of-42 on two-point attempts compared to Hapoel’s 22-of-50.
The decisive late sequence arrived when Feliz and Garuba connected again for a cutting layup that extended the lead to 68-79 inside the final two minutes, effectively sealing the win.
Real Madrid’s bench made a major impact across the series clincher. Maledon added 14 points, Feliz contributed 9 points and 5 assists, and the reserve unit outscored the starters 51-36 in a complete team effort.
Madrid now head to the Final Four with depth, balance, and late-game execution defining their path through a demanding series.
