ASVEL Suffers 7th Straight Home Loss in EuroLeague to Maccabi Tel Aviv

Lyon, France – Maccabi Tel Aviv overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 89-85 on Friday, marking the seventh consecutive home loss for the French club in EuroLeague play. Despite a strong start, ASVEL faltered in the second half, ultimately succumbing to a determined Maccabi side.

ASVEL’s struggles at the Astroballe continued, as they remain winless at home in 2026 within the EuroLeague competition. The defeat drops them to the bottom of the standings with a record of 8 wins and 24 losses. The game highlighted the team’s difficulties closing out contests, particularly when facing adversity.

The first half belonged to ASVEL, as they built a comfortable lead, reaching a 52-38 advantage at the break. However, their momentum was disrupted mid-way through the third quarter with an injury to Glynn Watson, their leading scorer on the night with 17 points. Watson’s absence proved pivotal, as Maccabi began to mount a comeback.

Maccabi, led by Jaylen Hoard (8 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists), chipped away at the deficit towards the end of the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 61-62. They then seized control in the final period, fueled by a strong performance from Roman Sorkin, who finished with 23 points, and Tamir Blatt, who contributed 14 points and 13 assists. Blatt’s playmaking was instrumental in orchestrating the Maccabi offense.

ASVEL managed to pull within three points with possession and 15 seconds remaining (84-87), but costly missed free throws in the closing moments sealed their fate. They converted only 13 of 23 free throw attempts with four misses in the final 90 seconds proving particularly damaging. The inability to capitalize on opportunities from the charity stripe ultimately cost them the game.

The EuroLeague season is reaching a critical juncture as teams battle for playoff positioning. For ASVEL, this loss further complicates their already challenging path to contention. The team will require to address its consistency issues and find ways to protect leads if they hope to improve their standing in the league.

Maccabi’s victory demonstrates their resilience and ability to perform under pressure. Their balanced attack, featuring contributions from multiple players, proved too much for ASVEL to handle in the second half. The win solidifies their position as a competitive force in the EuroLeague.

Looking ahead, ASVEL will need to regroup and focus on their upcoming matchups. Addressing the injury situation and improving free throw shooting will be key priorities. The team’s ability to overcome adversity and rediscover their home form will be crucial for the remainder of the season.

Maccabi will aim to build on this momentum as they continue their pursuit of a favorable playoff seed. Their strong performance against ASVEL serves as a testament to their capabilities and sets a positive tone for their future games.

The next confirmed checkpoint for ASVEL is their upcoming EuroLeague match against Panathinaikos on March 28th. Fans can follow updates and results on the official EuroLeague website: https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague.

What are your thoughts on ASVEL’s struggles and Maccabi’s comeback? Share your opinions in the comments below!