Hapoel Jerusalem Stays Perfect in EuroCup With Dominant Win

Hapoel Jerusalem secured an impressive 84-73 victory over Aris Thessaloniki in Belgrade on Wednesday, maintaining their undefeated record 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 propelled Jerusalem to sole possession of first place.

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 and executing nearly flawlessly to secure the win. Player Jalen Smith credited the team's supporters, stating, "Our crowd made the difference. 100 people came, but it felt like thousands. They were with us even in the tough moments, so thank you to them." He also acknowledged the team's second-half awakening and aggressive play as key factors.

Kenny Lofton Jr. led Jerusalem with 22 points and 10 rebounds, supported by Shake Milton's 19 points, Lorenzo Brown's 11, and Jalen Smith's 10. The team is now looking ahead to their next EuroCup challenge against Italy's Tortona next week.

Domestically, Jerusalem is preparing for a match against Hapoel Emek Yizrael, coached by Yonatan Alon. 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 traveled on a special flight to support the team in Belgrade, alongside owner Matan Adelson and former player Gal Mekel.