Wilbekin and Dorsey power Maccabi Tel Aviv past Hapoel Jerusalem

Maccabi Tel Aviv disposed of Hapoel Jerusalem 89-73 on Sunday night in the Israeli basketball Clasico at Yad Eliyahu thanks to memorable nights from Scottie Wilbekin and Tyler Dorsey, who made his Israeli Premier League debut.

The yellow-and-blue duo combined for 41 points, including 20 three-pointers, to wipe out a one-point halftime deficit. Jerusalem’s J’Covan Brown and James Feldeine tried their best with 10 triples of their own, but

Maccabi’s second-half firepower was too much for the Reds to handle as they fell to their first defeat of the season.

Wilbekin scored 26 points, Dorsey added 15 points and Omri Casspi chipped in with 13 points for Tel Aviv, which dominated the boards, grabbing 44 rebounds to Jerusalem’s 26. Brown led all scorers with 27 points, Feldeine scored 18 points and TaShawn Thomas dropped 14 points for Hapoel in the loss.

“The picture on the court was very obvious that we played better in the second half and it was a great half,” said Maccabi coach Ioannis Sfairpoulos following the game. “We moved the ball and found a lot of open shots for Scottie and Tyler.”

Jerusalem coach Oded Katash also looked back at the contest with perspective.

“We were able to neutralize Maccabi and their guards in the first quarter, but the third quarter everything fell apart on both sides of the floor,” said Katash. “We gave Wilbekin the shots we didn’t want him to get and he hit them.”

Elsewhere, in a much anticipated matchup, Maccabi Rishon Lezion blasted Hapoel Holon 84-59 thanks to a fantastic defensive display, especially in a second half in which Rishon held the visitors to just 18 points.

Johnathan Williams recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 assists, Jordan Swing added 15 points while Alex Hamilton and Darryl Monroe each scored 12 points in the win.

Also, Hapoel Beersheba slipped by Ness Ziona 82-81 for its second win in a row, with captain Spencer Weisz once again starring for the southern Reds clocking in with a double-double (15 points and 14 rebounds), and Hapoel Gilboa/Galil squeaked by Maccabi Ashdod 91-89 as Jamar Gulley hit a game-winning three as time expired in overtime.