Name: Dreamland Gran Canaria-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem head coach Yonatan Alon warned his team that its EuroCup hopes can be forgotten if it plays another game like it did against Aris Thessaloniki

Jerusalem's Coach Alon warned his team: 'This can never happen again'

[Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-jerusalem/roster/jer/?season=2024-25) has big aspirations this season but head coach [Yonatan Alon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/jer/alon-yonatan/?season=U2024) warned his team that those hopes can be forgotten if it plays another game like it did against [Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-thessaloniki/roster/ari/?season=2024-25). 

Jerusalem needed to rally from 15 points down in the third quarter to grab [a 90-85 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/jerusalem-fights-back-to-down-aris-90-85-and-snap-skid/) over an Aris team that is nearly eliminated from the playoffs. 

"I am happy about the win, but if Hapoel Jerusalem wants to go somewhere this season, everybody needs to take a good look in the mirror and it can never happen again," the Jerusalem coach said after the game. "We are better than this and we should perform better than this. We won but we need to learn from this."

Game Videos

Jerusalem’s defense - ranked fourth in the EuroCup - allowed 71 points through three quarters and finally shut down the [worst offense in the league](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/key-stats-teams/?size=1000&misc=&seasonCode=U2024&category=Score&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=perGame) in the final frame for a 23-14 score. 

"We shouldn’t start games like this. We have shown that we can start games better. I am happy that we managed to get over it, but let’s not make it a habit," Alon added.

One of the main reasons Jerusalem was able to come back was another outstanding performance from MVP candidate [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/). The superstar guard scored 29 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 16-of-17 free throws to go with 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 10 fouls drawn for a performance index rating of 38. 

Game News

"In the first couple quarters, we didn’t play as well and we knew that. We knew that we could play a lot better as a team both offensively and defensively," Harper said. "Being able to get back into the game and being able to stay together as a team ultimately helped us in the end. That is a big win for us."

Jerusalem didn’t shoot the ball poorly, making 50.0% on two-pointers and 42.1% on three-pointers while also making 36 of 49 free throws (73.5%). But the main issue for the home side was ball-handling. The Israelis committed 20 turnovers. Harper believes the final stat is one of the biggest for his team’s hopes for the season.

"We know that every game is not going to be our best game. We want to control what we can control. I think we can control our turnovers. I think we can control our effort and our energy and how we play defense. As long as we can control those things, I think we will be in a good position to win. The offense will come eventually," he said. 

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem needs to learn from big comeback 

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v Aris Midea Thessaloniki (2025-01-02T18:00:00.000Z)

After a few sub-par performances by his lofty standards, Zach LeDay ensured Olimpia Milano beat LDLC ASVEL with a pair of clutch three-pointers.

Zach LeDay bounced back by stepping up late against ASVEL

Ever since [Zach LeDay](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/zach-leday/008987/) inspired [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/) to a [stunning win at FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/milan-surprises-barcelona-at-palau-blaugrana-81-94/) in Round 15, his downturn in performances coincided with the Italian team losing three straight in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. But in Round 19, LeDay enjoyed a key role – particularly late – as Milan got back on track with [a 66-75 victory at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/mirotic-leday-help-milan-snap-losing-streak-with-win-at-asvel-66-75/).

With [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) having reduced Milan’s lead to four points, 60-64, with 2:10 minutes to go, it seemed as though the game could go either way. Yet, LeDay did not leave any doubt by knocking down back-to-back three-pointers in quick succession to swell the lead to 60-70 – the first time it had gone to double digits all night – and effectively put the win on ice.

Now in his sixth season in the EuroLeague, LeDay has earned a reputation for his incredible consistency. That was put to the test in the last few games, with LeDay netting 6, 14 and 3 points in his last three games, respectively, in defeats to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens ([103-74](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nunns-39-points-leads-panathinaikos-past-milan-103-74/)), FC Bayern Munich ([78-79](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayern-grabs-long-awaited-road-win-at-milan-78-79/)) and Olympiacos Piraeus ([83-84](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-edges-milan-in-thriller-83-84/)). Those 14 points would typically be a decent number, but they were the joint second fewest he had netted since Round 7.

What’s more, in Milan’s loss against Olympiacos, LeDay was 1 for 5 from the field and didn’t attempt a single free throw. As such, his final numbers against ASVEL – 17 points on 4-of-6 two-pointers, 2-of-5 three-pointers and 3-of-4 free throws – were a marked improvement.

“I made a big mistake before the last game; I tried to let the game come to me, I didn’t just kill what was in front of me,” LeDay told EuroLeague TV after the game. “So I wanted to show that I learned a lesson.”

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan forward Zach LeDay spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in Round 19 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Zach LeDay: 'I wanted to be there for my team'

Tiredness and knocks start to take their toll on players around this time of year, but LeDay is clear minded in what his approach needs to be, particularly at LDLC Arena on Thursday night.

“There’s a point in time where people talk about hitting the wall, but sh\*t, you’ve just got to run through that mother\*\*\*\*er,” he said. “Just do what you got to do, you know what I mean? I wanted to be there for my team and lock in and really focus on the little things today.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">European winning night ✨🤍❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/insieme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#insieme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForzaOlimpia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForzaOlimpia</a> <a href="https://t.co/gBNEVOkydl">pic.twitter.com/gBNEVOkydl</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1874927969938112690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This victory moved Milan up to ninth place in the standings, good for a spot in the play-in. LeDay and co. will be hoping that they can now string together some victories – as they did between Rounds 10 and 15 – and force their way into one of the six elusive playoff places.

The 30-year-old hit a couple of clutch threes to all but wrap up the win

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-01-02T19:00:00.000Z)

Dreamland Gran Canaria-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-01-02T20:00:00.000Z)

KK Crvena zvezda guard Isaiah Canaan spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Round 19 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Isaiah Canaan: 'We can play with the best of them'

Crvena Zvezda Meridiantbet Belgrade guard Isaiah Canaan spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Round 19 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2025-01-02T19:30:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Nick Calathes made his AS Monaco debut against ALBA Berlin on Thursday in Round 19 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and everyone could see what head coach Vassilis Spanoulis expects from him.

Nick Calathes's return made Monaco even stronger 

[AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) kept first place in the standings with a [90-105 road win over ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/alba-berlin-as-monaco/E2024/164/#boxscore) in Round 19. [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) made his Monaco debut and everyone saw what head coach [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/spanoulis-vassilis?season=E2024) expected from him.

Spanoulis and Calathes were Panathinaikos Athens teammates in the 2009-10 season as well as on the Greek national team. They also played against each other many times while Spanoulis was starring for Olympiacos Piraeus. The big question was how would Spanoulis integrate a veteran like Calathes into a backcourt that was working very well, led by [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/), [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/) and [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/)?

The answer is simple: Calathes offers what he has always been good at: outstanding defense, court vision and vocal leadership. His numbers against ALBA were not spectacular but spoke volumes. Calathes only took one shot, which he missed, but he had 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 block for a PIR of 6 in less than 19 minutes. He was on the court when the game was decided.

Nick Calathes had 7 assists in his AS Monaco EuroLeague debut against ALBA Berlin. Here are the best ones.

Calathes returns in Berlin

After trailing 35-55 at halftime, ALBA managed to get within 86-92 on a put-back layup by [Gabriele Procida](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/gabriele-procida/008384/). That's where Calathes provided silent leadership, dishing 4 assists in the last 4 minutes to make sure Monaco cruised to a comfortable victory. He found James for a three-pointer, collected a steal and allowed James to score again, fed [Jaron Blossomgame](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaron-blossomgame/011231/) for the game-clinching triple and still had time to find James again for an easy basket.

It is no surprise that Monaco's offensive flow was better with Calathes around. James finished the game with a season-high 23 points. [Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/) fired in 5 of 6 three-pointers on his way to 18 points, his highest-scoring mark this season. Blossomgame's 17 points matched his EuroLeague career high. Okobo and Loyd finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🦾 Il a fallu résister au comeback de Berlin pour décrocher cette belle victoire à l&#39;extérieur ⚡️<br><br>La <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> reste co-leader de l&#39;Euroleague ! 👑🇲🇨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DagheMunegu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DagheMunegu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/ujCcD8HUih">pic.twitter.com/ujCcD8HUih</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1874935779774099964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

James praised Spanoulis's adjustments after the game: "He hasn't really changed my game. I think that's just a little bit different pace that we play, with a little bit different plays, a little bit more off-screen plays, more plays to get me in movement instead of his \[Sasa Obradovic, Monaco's former head coach\] attacking in isolation all the time from the top. So it's just different," James said. 

"I think he's got different rules on defense, so that changed a lot for us. We are playing with confidence. We are trying to pick it up, he has done a great job."

Calathes is aware that he doesn't need to score to be a key piece in this team. He just needs to play excellent defense as always and put the ball in the right place. With so much scoring talent around him, his off-the-charts basketball IQ makes him shine even more.

'The Bald Eagle' is back in a key veteran role 


ALBA Berlin v AS Monaco (2025-01-02T19:00:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice-Valencia Basket | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Umana Reyer Venice v Valencia Basket (2025-01-02T19:00:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade completed a perfect tour of Spain in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with a 73-75 victory at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz to improve to 11-8

Resilient Crvena Zvezda edges out Baskonia, 73-75 

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade completed a perfect tour of Spain in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with a 73-75 victory at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz to improve to 11-8. The win came after Zvezda celebrated a 74-78 win at FC Barcelona in the previous round.

Joel Bolomboy paced Zvezda with 16 points and 8 rebounds, but it was Isaiah Canaan who emerged as the game-winner for the visitors after sinking a pair of crucial layups. Canaan finished with 15 points, despite making just 1 of 8 from downtown, while Rokas Giedraitis sank 12 points against his former club.

At the other end, Chima Moneke scored 18 points, Donta Hall netted 14 while Markus Howard and Trent Forrest chipped in with 10 each for Baskonia, which shot 0 of 15 from deep in the first half and dropped to 8-11 after a tough home loss.

The home team made a bright start and took an early 14-6 lead as Hall dominated the paint in the opening exchanges, but Zvezda hit back with a 0-10 run before getting firmly into the driver’s seat in the second quarter. Bolomboy took over as Baskonia had no reply for the Serbian outfit’s fast-paced offense, garnished with some spectacular slam-dunks, which propelled the visitors into a 28-42 halftime lead.  

Aggressive defense on the perimeter made it difficult for Baskonia to get any open looks from long range, with the hosts misfiring time and again as their backcourt struggled, particularly Howard.

Zvezda looked set for some plain sailing after engineering a 42-57 advantage in the third quarter, with Bolomboy bending the rim with yet another ferocious dunk, but Baskonia got a second win with a 10-0 run that set the scene for a tense final 10 minutes.

Baskonia closed the gap to 68-69 as Howard, who finished on 2 of 10 from downtown, hit a rare triple and the home team nosed ahead 73-71 in the home straight, as Zvezda’s offense was ground to a screeching halt. However, Canaan came up big down the stretch as he twice weaved his way through traffic to force the final twist, with Moneke falling short with a tough hook shot on the buzzer at the other end.

The Serbian team headed into 2025 with a gritty road win over a plucky rival 

Olimpia Milano forward Zach LeDay spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat LDLC ASVEL in Round 19 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv showed its strongest collective effort under head coach Dimitris Itoudis with a dominant 64-87 victory at Dreamland Gran Canaria

Hapoel cruises past Gran Canaria 64-87 thanks to big first half

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv showed its strongest collective effort under head coach Dimitris Itoudis with a dominant 64-87 victory at Dreamland Gran Canaria. The Israeli side took the first half 25-51 and never was challenged the rest of the way for an 8-5 record - including 3-2 since Itoudis’ arrival as playcaller. The defensive showing was a major welcome as Hapoel had given up 104 and 101 points in its last two games.

Johnathan Motley and Bar Timor both scored 14 points while Antonio Blakeney tallied 13 points and Bruno Caboclo had 10 points for the winners. Gran Canaria, which suffered its worst halftime margin ever, dropped its second straight game for a 9-4 record, also falling to 5-2 at home. Joe Thomasson had 13 points to lead Gran Canaria and Carlos Alocen picked up 10 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.

Alocen scored Gran Canaria’s first two baskets and it was 4-6 early. But Hapoel started to take control with Motley scoring 9 points to surge ahead 8-20. The visitors did not let up and led 12-26 after 10 minutes. 

Caleb Homesley netted the first 5 points of the second quarter to get the hosts within 17-26. But the Hapoel roll continued with a 4-17 run to take a 21-43 advantage. Gran Canaria just could not get anything going at either end and Caboclo had two baskets and the cushion was 25-51 at the break. The 26-point differential was the worst in a half for Gran Canaria, topping the 25-point gap against ALBA Berlin (49-24) during the 2015-16 season. 

Alocen tried to get the hosts back into the game with two scores, an assist and a steal while two more Gran Canaria baskets cut the deficit to 37-55. Hapoel was not impressed with 2 Timor triples bookending a 4-12 answer to lead 41-67. The score was 43-67 after 30 minutes.

Miquel Salvo hit a three-pointer and converted a three-point play as Gran Canaria was again within 20 points at 52-72. But Blakeney took over with 10 straight points for the visitors for a 56-82 cushion with 5 minutes to play. The game had already long been decided and Hapoel finished strong.

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv grabs its third win in five games under new head coach Dimitris Itoudis 

Yam Madar delivers a great pass to Bruno Caboclo, who hammers home a massive dunk.

Caboclo dunks after great pass! Magic Moment of the Night

 Yam Madar delivers a great pass to Bruno Caboclo, who hammers home a massive dunk.

Tomer Ginat grabs the rebound and then delivers a fantastic behind-the-back pass in traffic to Ish Wainright for the score.

Ginat goes behind-the-back! Magic Moment

 Tomer Ginat grabs the rebound and then delivers a fantastic behind-the-back pass in traffic to Ish Wainright for the score.

 Canaan wins it! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night

Umana Reyer Venice took control early en route to downing the first-place Valencia Basket 81-74 on Thursday night. Reyer improved to 7-6 with its fifth win in the last six games, while Valencia, already qualified for the playoffs, dropped its second straight and now had has an 11-2 record.

Reyer downs Valencia, climbs to winning record

Umana Reyer Venice took control early en route to downing first-place Valencia Basket 81-74 on Thursday night. Reyer improved to 7-6 with its fifth win in the last six games, while Valencia, which already qualified for the playoffs, dropped its second straight and now had has an 11-2 record.

Reyer broke the game open with a 14-1 second-quarter run, led by 22 at halftime, and then kept the lead safe in the second half as the visitors attempted a rally. Davide Moretti and Mfiondu Kebengele had 15 points apiece, Tyler Ennis had 12 points and 6 assists, while Aamir Simms scored 10 in the victory. Xavi Lopez-Arostegui had 17, and Matt Costello collected 14 points and 7 rebounds in defeat.

Brancou Badio scored inside and Nate Reuvers from the outside in the early going, but Kabengele had a dunk and Ennis a short jumper to help the hosts to an early 8-5 advantage. Costello hit a three-pointer for Valencia, but Kabengele took one to the rim and then nailed a corner triple, only to follow it up with a tough turnaround jumper to help open a 19-12 lead. However, Badio and Semi Ojeleye each had a three-pointer to cut it to 21-18 after 10 minutes.

Reuvers made a tough layup early in the second for the visitors, but that was in between two baskets from Simms. Moretti followed it with back-to-back triples that opened a 31-21 lead. The run did not end there, even after a Valencia timeout, with Moretti, Simms and Ennis extending it to 37-21. Valencia was held without a field goal for full 5 minutes before Lopez-Arostegui nailed a triple, but Alessandro Lever and Simms extended the margin to 43-26 with buckets from close range. The hosts continued with their relentless defense, then running it the other way, as Kyle Wiltjer and Kabengele made it 49-28 in the final minute behind a 10-1 run. Moretti's triple, his third, put 52-30 on the scoreboard at halftime.

The teams traded buckets for much of the third quarter. Lopez-Arostegui made a triple for the visitors, Jaime Pradila scored on the fast break and Costello nailed a long jumper, but Jordan Parks, Carl Wheatle and Kabengele kept the margin at 60-37. Costello scored twice more from close range and Nate Sestina hit a transition triple to help cut it to 62-46. Moretti knocked down his fourth three-pointer, but three-point-plays from Sergio De Larrea and Sestina got Valencia within 15 points and the hosts led 68-52 going into the fourth quarter.

Lever and Pradilla traded close-range baskets and, after Lopez-Arostegui took one to the rim, Simms made a hook shot to keep Valencia at bay, 73-57. However, the visitors went to the free throw line on the next three possessions, making all 6 foul shots to get the margin to 10 points midway through the fourth quarter. But Ennis scored 6 points, a driving layup, a pair of free throws and a pull-up jumper, not allowing Valencia to get the margin into single digits, 79-67. Badio did cut it to single digits and Costello's triple made it 79-74, but with just 29 seconds left, it was too late for a comeback.

Coach Neven Spahija's team led by as many as 24 points en route to an important win

Reyer downs Valencia 81-74, climbs to winning record

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Carlos Alocen on the run delivers a sweet dish to Pierre Pelos for the layup.

Sweet dish from Alocen! Magic Moment

 Carlos Alocen on the run delivers a sweet dish to Pierre Pelos for the layup.

It's the final seconds, but Parks make sure to stop Costello with a two-handed block.

Parks with a two-handed block! Magic Moment

 It's the final seconds, but Parks make sure to stop Costello with a two-handed block.