Basketball

“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.”

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

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.

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.

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

Following the incident, a complaint was filed with local law enforcement, and the Greek fan who assaulted Ofer Yanai was arrested.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv big man does it all. From scoring, dunking, blocking, and rebounding, the Minsk, Belarus-born Sorkin has continued to carve out a rise to the top.

Israeli basketball clubs deliver on all fronts and across the world, from Hapoel Tel Aviv's victory in Israel, to Maccabi Tel Aviv in Dubai, to Hapoel Jerusalem in Slovenia.

The first game back in Israel provided plenty of excitement as Lonnie Walker (29 points) and Roman Sorkin (26 points) led the way for the yellow-and-blue.