Maccabi Tel Aviv loses preseason opener to Hapoel Herzliya: Wallace shines amid depleted roster

Maccabi Tel Aviv entered their first preseason game of the 2026 season with a severely depleted roster. Coach Oded Kattash was forced to rotate available players as several key contributors were absent due to national team duty, injuries, or lack of fitness. Despite this, the yellow-and-blue started impressively, leading 23-17 after the first quarter and extending the margin to 53-38 by halftime. However, the script completely flipped in the final quarter. Hapoel Herzliya, despite trailing 72-63 after three quarters, mounted a strong comeback and won the game 86-84. The visitors' resurgence exposed Maccabi's stamina issues and inability to close out games with a thin rotation. The only bright spot was Keaton Wallace. The newcomer scored 20 points, including 10 in the first quarter and 14 by halftime. Wallace was the sole offensive engine as his teammates contributed modestly: Will Rayman 8 points, Amit Abu, Jundy, and Bonzie Colson 6 each, Armand Bykota and Shane Hunter 4 each. The game was played behind closed doors without fans or media, serving internal evaluation purposes. This is a familiar challenge for Israeli teams as many players are on international duty. Jimmy Clark was sidelined with an injury, while T.J. Leaf and Gur Lavi were not yet at full fitness. Tactically, Maccabi controlled the game for three quarters through fast transition and active defense. However, the lack of depth prevented them from maintaining intensity in the final period. The late collapse is a warning for Coach Kattash about the need to build a deeper squad. Wallace proved he can be a primary scoring option when the team is shorthanded. But to compete at the European level, Maccabi needs key players back and better closing execution. This preseason loss, though inconsequential, has exposed weaknesses that need addressing before the new season. Overall, Wallace's performance is a positive sign, but the team needs more than that to replicate success in the EuroLeague. Upcoming friendlies will be opportunities for Kattash to experiment and find his optimal rotation.