Hapoel Jerusalem Defeats Eilat 88-78 Ahead of EuroCup Clash With Aris
Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Hapoel Eilat 88-78 to maintain a perfect domestic record, ahead of a crucial EuroCup showdown against Aris Thessaloniki in Belgrade.
Hapoel Jerusalem maintained its perfect record in the Premier League with an 88-78 victory over Hapoel Eilat, improving to 4-4. The team is set to fly to Belgrade on Tuesday ahead of a crucial EuroCup clash against Aris Thessaloniki.
Head coach Sasa Obradovic decided to rest Kenneth Lofton Jr., who is dealing with a minor knee issue, allowing Jalen Smith to step up with 18 points and five assists. Bench players Roi Huber and Yotam Hanochi saw extended minutes, with Hanochi contributing nine points to shift the momentum. No player exceeded 27 minutes on the court as Obradovic managed his squad's fatigue.
"We deserved to win, even if it was harder than we expected," Obradovic said after the match. Looking ahead to the European fixture against undefeated Aris, the coach stressed the need for full aggressiveness. Meanwhile, injured guard Jared Harper has progressed in his recovery and has returned to ball-handling and shooting drills.
