Basketball

Maccabi cruises, Hapoel rallies as Tel Aviv basketball derby looms

The round of games was also overshadowed by the death of Hapoel Galil Elyon’s Israeli guard Raz Adam last week at the age of 26 in a car accident.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
TAMIR BLATT and Maccabi Tel Aviv are rounding into form ahead of a derby this week vs Hapoel and then the upcoming playoffs.
PARTICIPANTS IN the new ‘Back in the Game’ initiative compete during a special tournament launch event for IDF veterans coping with PTSD, held last Friday in Israel.

Israel Basketball Association launches 'Back in the Game' initiative for veterans with PTSD

The initiative was created in response to requests from members of the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization, who said basketball had become an important outlet in helping them cope with trauma.

|ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
The new court in Ofakim

A new international project arrives in Ofakim and upgrades sports in the city

In cooperation with the JAB Courts initiative and donors from abroad, two basketball courts in the city were upgraded, and more are expected to be added soon.

|BySHEVA DAROM
Israeli basketball player Raz Adam shares a picture of himself on his personal X/Twitter.

Israeli basketball player Raz Adam pronounced dead after car crash in Galilee Panhandle

Adam was driving his vehicle during the crash, which occured on Highway 90. The driver of the other vehicle was lightly injured and evacuated to Ziv Medical Center, Safed, by MDA paramedics.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Hapoel Jerusalem advances to State Cup semis as Tel Aviv clubs fall in Europe

Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv, advancing to the Israel State Cup semifinals as Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv faced defeat in Euroleague basketball games.

FEBRUARY 2, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
JARED HARPER scored a game-high 24 points to lead Hapoel Jerusalem to a 93-83 State Cup quarterfinal victory over a suddenly slumping Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Israel’s basketball powerhouse: Deni Avdija’s meteoric rise to NBA stardom

Deni Avdija has become the fulcrum of Portland’s offense and one of the most productive two-way forwards in the league.

JANUARY 31, 2026ByASHER SMITH
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS forward Deni Avdija (8) scores a basket during the first half against Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

Hapoel Tel Aviv beats Beersheba in OT, while Jerusalem, Mac TA both take wins home

Hapoel Tel Aviv slipped by Hapoel Beersheba 112-108 in overtime to notch the tight win at Yad Eliyahu and improve its Israeli league record to 14-1 and remain in first place.

JANUARY 27, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV'S Antonio Blakeney blocks a shot during the Reds' 112-108 overtime victory over Hapoel Beersheba in Israeli league action at Yad Eliyahu.

Everyone loves Rayman after Maccabi Tel Aviv's Euroleague triumph

Above all, the player who contributed to the win over the Greeks was Will Rayman, who perhaps made the most important and critical play, a play that wasn’t even with the ball.

JANUARY 25, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV'S Will Rayman (11) has earned an increasingly important role with the club and he was instrumental in the yellow-and-blue's 75-71 Euroleague victory over Panathinaikos.

Hapoel Tel Aviv earns Euroleague triumph

First-place Reds improve to 16-6 • Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated in Greece • Jerusalem, Holon also lose

JANUARY 22, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV guard Chris Jones celebrates after scoring two of his team-high 16 points in the Reds’ 71-66 Euroleague victory over Anadolu Efes in Bulgaria.

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.

JANUARY 19, 2026ByJERUSALEM 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.

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.

JANUARY 16, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
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.

‘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.

JANUARY 15, 2026ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
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.

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.

JANUARY 14, 2026ByJAMES GENN
Iranian filmmaker Javad Ganji, believed to be killed during a protest in Tehran, in an undated picture.

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.