Jordan Loyd Credits Poland's Victory Over Israel to Absence of Deni Avdija

Israel's national basketball team suffered a heavy 106-86 defeat against Poland in Riga on August 27, 2026, in the World Cup 2027 qualifiers. The loss dropped Israel's record to 5-2, severely diminishing their chances of qualifying for the tournament, while Poland maintained a perfect record and strengthened its position at the top of the group.

Poland's guard Jordan Loyd was one of the standout players, scoring 18 points. In a post-game interview with Sport Channel, Loyd praised the team's collective effort and leadership from captain Ponitka. He noted Israel's resilience despite Poland leading by 12 to 14 points, emphasizing the need to maintain focus throughout the nearly 40-minute game.

Loyd highlighted Israel's key weakness in the match: the absence of Deni Avdija, whom he described as a crucial player and one of the best in the world. Loyd also pointed to Poland's physical advantage, particularly their height, which allowed them to score easy points inside the paint.

For Israel, the defeat continues a difficult qualification window. Knowing that a loss would almost end their World Cup hopes, the team struggled to match Poland's physicality and conceded 106 points. Israel now faces an uphill battle to recover ahead of their next game against Latvia, with their path to the World Cup looking nearly impossible.