Basketball

Avdija nets 30 in winning return for Blazers

Deni Avdija returned from injury with a dominant 30-point performance, leading Portland to a 117-110 win over Sacramento, as the Blazers extended their win streak to three.

|ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija drives past the Sacramento Kings’ Precious Achiuwa during the Blazers’ 117-110 victory over the host Kings.
IN HIS sixth NBA season, Israeli forward has taken a big leap with the Portland Trail Blazers and is favored to make his first All-Star Game.

Deni Avdija nears Portland Trailblazers NBA return following injury

Portland forward Deni Avdija is close to returning after missing one game with lower-back soreness, as his strong season keeps him in the All-Star conversation.

|ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
ZALGIRIS GUARD Maodo Lo (in red), a veteran of top European clubs and a regular member of the German national team, brings extensive international experience into tonight’s Euroeague matchup against host Maccabi Tel Aviv.

‘It’s a marathon, not a sprint’: Zalgiris, Lo eye big night vs Maccabi Tel Aviv

The Lithuanian squad was in Israel just a couple of weeks ago, and came away with a win over Hapoel Tel Aviv. It would like to replicate that success after splitting its last two Euroleague games.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
Iranian filmmaker Javad Ganji, believed to be killed during a protest in Tehran, in an undated picture.

Iranian filmmaker Javad Ganji killed in Tehran protests, anti-regime data shows

Iranian filmmaker Javad Ganji, 39, was shot during protests in Tehran's Sadeghiyeh area, according to Hengaw and the National Council of Resistance of Iran's data.

|ByJAMES GENN

Maccabi Tel Aviv defeats Hapoel Jerusalem

Hapoel Tel Aviv handles Ramat Gan • Beersheba beats Galil Elyon • Herliya downs Ness Ziona

JANUARY 12, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV teammates Roman Sorkin (left) and Oshae Brissett celebrate after a basket during their team’s 95-84 win over Hapoel Jerusalem over the weekend.

Did Washington move too soon on Avdija? Former manager Tommy Sheppard offers an answer - interview

Avdija’s first season highlighted the difficulty. An ankle injury limited him to 54 games, and according to Sheppard, that period tested his character.

JANUARY 11, 2026ByIDAN KWELLER
Deni Avdija

Built for the big moments: Carrington leads Hapoel Jerusalem’s recent surge

The naturalized Israeli is in the midst of this third season with the capital city Reds and has been nothing less than a consummate professional, one of the leaders of the team.

JANUARY 8, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
VETERAN GUARD Khadeen Carrington has become the heartbeat of Hapoel Jerusalem, delivering his biggest games when the stakes are the highest.

Hapoel Tel Aviv beats Dubai, Maccabi falls in Barcelona

Blakeney, Micic power first-place Reds against Dubai • Yellow-and-blue drops to 8-12 in Euroleague

JANUARY 7, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV guard Antonio Blakeney reacts after scoring two of his game-high 25 points in the Reds’ 80-65 Euroleague rout of visiting Dubai.

Deni Avdija’s NBA leap is turning Israeli hoops into must-watch TV

JANUARY 7, 2026ByISAAC KAPLAN
Basketball.

Avdija leads, Portland believes: Triple-double and turning point in road victory over Spurs

“I think we’re improving at closing games,” Avdija explained. “Everyone is disciplined defensively, helping each other. We don’t leave anyone alone, and we go get wins together.”

JANUARY 4, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Israeli forward Deni Avdija drives past San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet for two of his game-high 29 points – to go along with 11 rebounds and 10 assists – in the Blazers’ 115-110 road victory over the Spurs. (Daniel Dunn/Imagn Images)

Israeli NBA player Deni Avdija scores 34 as Blazers extend Pelicans' misery

Avdija buoyed the Blazers for much of the first half, having scored almost half of Portland's points deep into the second quarter.

JANUARY 3, 2026ByREUTERS
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) during the first half at Smoothie King Center, Jan 2, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Texas Tech women's basketball team scores tallest woman in college basketball history for team

The Texas Tech athletic department didn't make the news official, but it did post a photo on its website of Stephanie Okechukwu, a 7-footer from Nigeria, palming a basketball in each hand.

JANUARY 2, 2026ByREUTERS
THE TEXAS Tech Lady Raiders bench celebrates after a play against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls during the second half at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, March 7, 2025.

Surging Maccabi Tel Aviv continues Euroleague push

In Israeli League play, Hapoel Tel Aviv blasted Hapoel Holon 114-60 as the Reds came out flying and were a team on a mission as seven players scored in double digits to sew up the blowout victory.

DECEMBER 28, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV’s Lonnie Walker rises for two of his game-high 20 points in the yellow-and-blue’s 112-87 Euroleague victory over host Partizan Belgrade.

From Toronto to Tel Aviv: Tyler Ennis is thriving in Hapoel - interview

The 31-year-old former Laker began his career in Canada before playing for the NBA and eventually joining Hapoel Tel Aviv to play in both the Euroleague and the domestic Israeli league.

DECEMBER 26, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV guard Tyler Ennis, a Canadian international and former NBA player, has been a key contributor to the Reds’ strong start to the season.

Hapoel Tel Aviv stays atop Euroleague with road conquest of Bayern Munich

Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Bayern Munich by ten points in the match, improving the Reds’ first-place record to 13-5 on the season.

DECEMBER 24, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ELIJAH BRYANT shoots over a Bayern Munich defender during the Reds’ 82-72 road victory to improve their first-place Euroleague record to 13-5.