When it comes to Hapoel Tel Aviv, one thing is certain: it’s never boring.

The Reds looked unstoppable in the first half against Real Madrid, building a commanding 63-43 lead as Bruno Caboclo knocked down one three-pointer after another. But the second half was a completely different story. Los Blancos turned up the offensive pressure, erased the 20-point deficit and headed into the fourth quarter all square at 75-75.

That’s when Elijah Bryant, fresh off winning Round Two MVP honors, made his case for another award. The Hapoel star took over down the stretch, pouring in points to lead the Reds to a thrilling 102-98 victory. The win completed a perfect EuroLeague double week and left head coach Dimitris Itoudis delighted.

Itoudis entered the game with a clear game plan: make life as difficult as possible for EuroLeague’s biggest presence, Walter Tavares. The strategy worked to perfection in the first half, as Caboclo, making his EuroLeague debut for Hapoel, connected on four three-pointers and forced Tavares to deal with a different kind of challenge. Caboclo’s ability to stretch the floor, along with Zach LeDay’s scoring, created all kinds of problems for Real Madrid coach Pedro Martinez.

Taking a 20-point lead into halftime is about as good as it gets. Watching that advantage disappear in just 10 minutes, however, was another matter entirely.

Hapoel, which had looked like a well-oiled machine over the opening 20 minutes, completely lost its rhythm in the third quarter. The Reds struggled to score and had no answers defensively as Real Madrid stormed back to erase the deficit and tie the game at 75-75 heading into the final frame.

But just when Hapoel needed a spark, Caboclo delivered. The Brazilian big man opened the fourth quarter by knocking down his fifth and final three-pointer of the night before fouling out. From there, Bryant and Vasilije Micic took charge, combining to fuel the decisive run that carried Hapoel across the finish line and improved its EuroLeague record to 2-1.

Itoudis was understandably pleased with Caboclo’s contribution, particularly given the difficult assignment he faced against Tavares.

“We proved, and Bruno proved, that we have a deep roster with players who can step up and bring something to the team,” Itoudis said. “I was disappointed that he fouled out, because he is capable of drawing Tavares away from the paint, which gives us an advantage.”

Caboclo was equally pleased with his performance, explaining that his preparation helped him make an immediate impact.

“I feel great. I was in great shape and kept myself ready, mentally as well,” he said. “We started great. We lost one game to Bayern, but then we picked it up. Everyone is doing a great job staying focused, and we all have to stay ready.”

For Martinez and Real Madrid, the defeat dropped them to a disappointing 0-3 to open the EuroLeague season, a far cry from the expectations that followed their EuroLeague Super Cup triumph just before the campaign began. The former Valencia coach now faces the challenge of getting his team back on track after a difficult start.

Theo Maledon, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Walter Tavares all finished in double figures, but their efforts were not enough to prevent Real from surrendering 102 points. Allowing that many points over 40 minutes is rarely a recipe for success, particularly for a team with Madrid’s ambitions.

Real actually did enough offensively in the fourth quarter, scoring 27 points and repeatedly threatening to complete its comeback. But every time Los Blancos appeared ready to take control, Hapoel found a way to respond and maintain just enough breathing room.

Bryant was the difference.

With the game tied at 75-75, the Round Two MVP took matters into his own hands, scoring from inside and outside while creating opportunities for his teammates. He poured in 11 points in the fourth quarter alone, finishing with 22 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and a remarkable efficiency rating of 40.

After Hapoel’s commanding first-half performance had been wiped away, Bryant made sure there would be no further collapse. He took control of the offense, repeatedly finding ways to score or set up teammates and helping the Reds build a lead that proved just large enough to withstand Madrid’s late push.

With a performance like that, Bryant has certainly put himself in contention for another Round MVP award. His fourth-quarter takeover was precisely what Hapoel needed to turn a potential collapse into an important victory.

The opening-night loss to Bayern Munich now looks like little more than a minor setback for Itoudis and his squad. Since then, Hapoel has responded with back-to-back EuroLeague victories, showing both its offensive firepower and its ability to find ways to win when things get difficult.

The Reds will now return to Israel for a Winner Cup semifinal matchup against Nes Ziona on Saturday night before heading back to Spain to face Valencia, which has already opened its EuroLeague campaign with a 2-0 record.

Hapoel is still a work in progress, and it will take time for the team to find its rhythm and consistently play at its full potential. But for now, the most important thing is getting wins. Whether through dominant stretches or dramatic comebacks, Itoudis and his players are finding ways to get the job done.