Basketball

Maccabi Tel Aviv rallies, downs Jerusalem in State Cup semis

With a 94-85 win, Maccabi Tel Aviv advanced to the State Cup final, which will take place on Thursday night. The yellow-and-blue will meet the winner of the Bnei Herzliya and Hapoel HaEmek clash.

Maccabi Tel Aviv players celebrating.
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Spike Lee and John Tesh watch during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome.

Spike Lee, Kyrie Irving wear pro-Palestinian outfits to NBA All-Star Game featuring Israeli player

Portland, Oregon, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket during the second half against Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) at Moda Center, Feb 20, 2025.

'I heard great things': LeBron James faces backlash after praising Deni Avdija, Israel

Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team USA Stripes forward LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball in game four against Team Stars during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome.

The backlash to Lebron James' praise of Israel is jarring, but predictable - comment


Maccabi Tel Aviv defeats Hapoel Jerusalem

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.”

 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.