Hapoel Jerusalem Stays Perfect With Victory Over Eilat

Hapoel Jerusalem maintained its undefeated record across all competitions with an 88-78 win against Eilat on Sunday. Galen Smith led the team with 18 points, contributing to five players scoring in double figures. The victory keeps coach Sasa Obradovic's perfect streak intact ahead of a significant EuroCup game against Aris Thessaloniki.

Jerusalem established an early 13-0 lead, with Eitan Borgh scoring 8 points without a miss. Despite Eilat's defensive efforts and runs led by Kendall McCollum and Tsuf Ben Moshe, who scored 15 points in the first half, Jerusalem managed to regain a double-digit advantage. Ben Moshe's performance, including four three-pointers, helped Eilat tie the game at one point.

In the absence of key players Kenny Lofton Jr. and Lorenzo Brown, who were rested before the Aris game, Smith provided crucial support with his scoring, steals, and assists. His consistent play helped Jerusalem maintain control, especially during a difficult third quarter. The team's defense, which allows the fewest points in the league, was instrumental in stifling Eilat's offense, which relied heavily on McCollum and Ben Moshe.

The final quarter saw Jerusalem extend its lead to a game-high 16 points, with contributions from David Rudi and Roi Huber. Although Eilat, led by Yuval Schneiderman and Bryant Crawford, managed to narrow the gap to 8 points, Yotam Chanuchi sealed the win with a late three-pointer, and Smith added a final basket.

Hapoel Jerusalem will next host Aris Thessaloniki in the EuroCup on Wednesday before returning to league play against Hapoel HaEmek. Eilat will host Hapoel Beer Sheva Dimona in a southern derby next Monday.