Hapoel Jerusalem Stays Perfect in EuroCup After Beating Aris Thessaloniki
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Aris Thessaloniki 84-73 in Belgrade to remain undefeated in the EuroCup, taking sole possession of first place in Group A. Player Jaylen Smith credited the approximately 100 traveling fans for their significant impact during the game. The team, with strong performances from Kenny Lofton Jr. and Shayok Miltion, now looks ahead to facing Italy's Tortona next week and Hapoel HaEmek in the domestic league.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Aris Thessaloniki 84-73 to remain undefeated atop their EuroCup group.
- Approximately 100 traveling fans made the game feel like thousands, according to player Jaylen Smith.
- Kenny Lofton Jr. led Jerusalem with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.
- Jerusalem is seeking approval to relocate its home games to Cyprus.
- The team will next play Italy's Tortona in the EuroCup and Hapoel HaEmek domestically.
Hapoel Jerusalem secured an impressive 84-73 victory over Aris Thessaloniki in Belgrade, maintaining their undefeated streak in the EuroCup. Both teams entered the game with identical 5-0 records, making this a crucial matchup for the top spot in Group A. The win propels Jerusalem to an exclusive first-place position in their group.
Despite facing a strong defensive and offensive opponent with proven scorers, Jerusalem's offense struggled in the final six minutes of the first half, managing only one field goal. However, the team rallied significantly in the second half, displaying increased aggression to secure the win. Player Jaylen Smith highlighted the impact of the fans, stating that the approximately 100 supporters who traveled to the game made it feel like thousands and were crucial during difficult moments.
"Our crowd made the difference. 100 people came, but it felt like thousands. They were with us in the tough moments, so thank you to them," Smith said. "Kudos to the team as well, we woke up in the second half and with the crowd behind us it led us to victory. We were more aggressive in the second half and that helped us win. I'm happy we're returning home with a win."
Key performers for Jerusalem included Kenny Lofton Jr., who led with 22 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Shayok Miltion with 19 points, Lorenzo Brown with 11, and Jaylen Smith with 10. The team is now preparing for their next EuroCup challenge against Italy's Tortona next week.
Domestically, Jerusalem is set to face Hapoel HaEmek in their upcoming league game. The club, similar to Maccabi Tel Aviv, is reportedly seeking to relocate its home games to Cyprus but has not yet received approval. Approximately 100 fans arrived via a special flight to support the team in Belgrade, where team owner Matan Adelson and Gal Mekel were also present.
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