EuroLeague: Real Madrid vs Hapoel Tel Aviv 01/05/2026

Without Tavares, Real will struggle to stop Oturu, who has an ideal opportunity to dominate again and be a key factor for Hapoel.

Player Points Betting

The second game of the EuroLeague playoff quarterfinal series is on the schedule, with Real Madrid having defended their home court in the first matchup, winning 86–82.

The Royal Club controlled the game for nearly 38 minutes but allowed their opponent to come back late and create uncertainty. However, Hapoel’s players failed to capitalize on their chances, missing two three-point attempts that could have made the finish even more dramatic.

A much bigger issue for Real than the closing stretch is the injury to Edy Tavares, who had to leave the court after just three minutes of play. Subsequent examinations revealed a more serious injury, meaning the dominant center will miss the rest of the series, which is a major setback for the home team.

Tavares’ absence was fully exploited by Hapoel center Dan Oturu, who delivered one of the best performances of his career with 20 points (8/9 from the field) and an impressive 17 rebounds. He was an unsolvable problem for Real’s centers—Usman Garuba and Alex Len—who had no answer to his energy and presence in the paint.

With Tavares out, Oturu is expected to play a key role again in the second game. Garuba brings effort and defensive versatility but is not a traditional center capable of stopping a dominant post player, while Len is still adjusting to the European style of play and lacks consistent minutes.

Considering that coach Dimitris Itoudis does not have much trust in Johnathan Motley at this stage of the season, it is clear that Oturu will once again have significant playing time and responsibility, opening the door for another strong offensive performance in this crucial matchup.