Hapoel Jerusalem 
Maccabi Tel Aviv Hapoel Jerusalem
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Thursday on the road: Jerusalem vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv
With a 2:1 head to head seasonal record, and after the 86:80 win in the last meeting, the reigning champions will head out to Jerusalem with two league fixtures remaining to the end of the regular season
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv will play their final road game of the regular season facing Hapoel Jerusalem as part of the 27th league fixture (Thursday, 21:15, live on Sport5 – channel 55). The Yellow & Blue hold a two-game advantage over the Reds, beating the cup holders in the latest game between the clubs 86:80 in Menora Mivtachim Arena.
״We have an important game on the road against Jerusalem, as we all know the importance of this matchup”, Said head coach Giannis Sfairopoulos before the final practice. “We want to stay focused, have a better game than the one we won here earlier. We need to be more concentrated and follow the plan because Jerusalem is a very good team. If we don’t follow our gameplan, it will be difficult to stay in the game”.
“Just playing hard on defense, limiting easy baskets and getting back in transition. We need to play together as a team, go out there and have fun”, Explained Sandy Cohen about the keys for tomorrow’s game. “I’m just trying to grow every game, every practice as I’m getting more comfortable in every game and every minute. I’m just trying to keep improving my role on this team, getting everybody’s trust rolling, and hopefully keep this momentum growing”.
With two fixtures left the Yellow & Blue look to secure first place, and for that, you should take out your calculator: A Maccabi victory or a loss up to 11 points difference, will ensure the top spot in the domestic league standings. A Jerusalem win by 12 or more, will give Oded Katash’s squad a shot to take command of first place if Maccabi loses to Rishon Le’Zion and Jerusalem beats Holon in the final league fixture of the regular season.
In the past four matchups between the two teams, the hosts ended up with the victory. Scottie Wilbekin averaged 22.3 points (64% from three), 6 assists, and 28.3 index points during the season matchup against the Reds, earning twice player of the week honors in both wins over Jerusalem. In the past win, Scottie finished the night with 21 points, and 10 assists as Amar’e Stoudemire added 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Maccabi lock-in first place with a 93:82 win over Jerusalem
The reigning champions secure the top spot after another victory over the Reds. Wilbekin led the way with 23 points, Caloiaro and Avdija added 16 and 15 respectively
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv was aware that a loss under 12 points would lock up a first-place finish in the Israeli “WINNER” League. Still, Giannis Sfairopoulos’s squad had bigger plans – complete the job in style. The Yellow & Blue dominated both ends of the court, which opened a double-digit advantage midway through the first quarter and, from that point on, never looked back on it’s way to a 93:82 convincing win in the Pais Arena over Hapoel Jerusalem.
Maccabi opened the first place clinching game with Scottie Wilbekin, Yovel Zoosman, Deni Avdija, Angelo Caloiaro, and Othello Hunter in the starting five. Avdija drove superbly to the basket scoring Maccabi’s first 4 points of the game, and Hunter provided an incredible block on Suleiman Braimoh, but James Feldine gave the hosts a 7:6 advantage. Hunter and Caloiaro sparked a 9:0 run as the Yellow & Blue held an 8 point lead midway through the quarter. Avdija gave the visitors their first double-digit lead of the night, as Caloiaro added four more points to his outstanding 8 point quarter, 27:14 Maccabi after 10 minutes.
Zoosman ramped the lead up to 16 with a shot from deep to start the quarter, while Feldine tried to reduce the damage, 33:22. Giannis Sfairopoulos’s squad came back from the timeout with a three-pointer by Jake Cohen. Wilbekin heated up in a hurry scoring 8 of the visitors 10 points increasing the advantage up to 21, 48:27. Caloiaro protected the lead, but Tamir Blatt and Braimoh cut it down to 17 by the end of the first half, 54:37.
Not a lot has changed with the start of the second half, Maccabi scored 6 consecutive points keeping Jerusalem scoreless for the first 2:30 minutes till Emanuel Terry supplied the hosts their first points of the quarter, 60:39. Zoosman and Caloiaro extended the Yellow & Blue’s lead with a 10:2 run, as Amar’e Stoudemire slammed it in, giving the visitors their highest point differential of the night, 70:41. After an Oded Katash timeout, Blatt and Braimoh reduced the deficit down to 22 with a 9:2 run, which forced Giannis Sfairopoulos to use a timeout, 72:50. Wilebkin answered on the other end scoring 5 points, including a shot from 10 meters deep, which closed out the third quarter at 77:56.
Blatt and Feldine continued to cut down the Yellow & Blue advantage on a 14:4 stretch in the first four minutes of the final quarter, 81:70. Sandy Cohen hit a crucial three-pointer, and Hunter added two more in the paint, which stopped the Jerusalem momentum momentarily. John Holland gave some hope for the home team scoring five straight points, but Wilbekin and Caloiaro ensured the win for Maccabi. Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv secure the first place of the regular season beating Hapoel Jerusalem on the road 93:82.
