Hapoel Tel Aviv saw its four-game winning streak in the EuroLeague halted on Friday evening, dropping a 97-83 decision to Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena. The match took place behind closed doors, leaving the visiting side with a 3-6 record after an offensive slowdown.
The Hapoel “IBI” Tel Aviv squad built momentum during a 30-point demolition of Anadolu Efes. That high-scoring showcase ended on Friday. Facing a much stiffer test against Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the visiting side struggled to replicate its previous offensive rhythm. Both teams now share an identical 3-6 record in the standings, with Dubai climbing to eighth place while Hapoel sits sixth following the setback.
Vasilije Micić Leads Hapoel While Elijah Bryant Struggles
Head coach Dimitris Itoudis shuffled his lineup for the road trip, welcoming back Vasilije Micić to anchor the offense. Micić finished as Hapoel’s high scorer with 15 points and seven assists, capping the opening quarter with a buzzer-beating three-pointer that gave the visitors a 22-19 edge.
That early success vanished as other key contributors went cold. Antonio Blakeney, coming off a career-high night against Anadolu Efes, managed 11 points but ran into foul trouble early. Elijah Bryant managed just three points in over 22 minutes on the floor on 1-of-8 shooting. He added two turnovers and a -6 index rating as reported by local sports coverage.
Dubai Secures Control in the Second Quarter
The turning point arrived immediately after the first break. Dubai erupted with a 12-0 run fueled by Elie Okobo and Filip Petrušev, flipping the scoreboard and seizing control. McKinley Wright added three consecutive baskets during an extended 18-2 surge that pushed the deficit into double digits at 37-24.
Filip Petrušev converted all six of his two-point field goal attempts. He finished with a game-high 20 points alongside eight makes from the charity stripe according to detailed match statistics. Dwayne Bacon added 17 points. Okobo contributed 18 to anchor Dubai’s efficient attack, which shot over 68 percent from inside the arc.
The physical contest turned alarming late in the third quarter. Hapoel guard Tomáš Satoranský suffered a severe fall on the parquet floor with less than two minutes remaining in the period. Visible distress rippled through both benches as play stopped entirely while medical staff attended to the Czech player. Satoranský was taken to the locker room and subsequently transported to a hospital suffering from a concussion.
Following the final whistle, the visiting club issued a formal message of appreciation directed at their opponents. A huge thank you to Dubai Basket
and everyone involved for the extraordinary help and support following Tomáš Satoranský’s injury,
the organization stated, Your kindness, professionalism, and humanity went above and beyond expectations. We are truly grateful to you.
.
Hapoel Prepares for Domestic Derby and Europe
Hapoel has little time to dwell on the loss in the desert. The squad must immediately prepare for a domestic league derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv scheduled for Sunday. Following that cross-town fixture, the red-and-whites return to continental action to host Barcelona at home in the next round of the EuroLeague schedule.