Hapoel Jerusalem put on a comprehensive display to beat Rostock Seawolves 94-73 in the EuroCup on Tuesday evening. The hosts controlled the tempo from the opening tip and never let the visitors close the gap, finishing with a twenty-one point margin that reflected the flow of the game. And here's the thing — it was another statement win for the Israeli side, who sit top of the table with thirteen victories from eighteen matches.
Jerusalem's shooting efficiency told the story. They hit 32 of 67 field goals and 8 of 18 from three-point range, while Rostock managed 25 of 67 overall and 10 of 29 from deep. The visitors relied heavily on long-range attempts, but the perimeter shooting did not translate into enough points to stay competitive. By then, the deficit had grown beyond recoverable.
Ball movement favoured the home side throughout. Hapoel recorded 24 assists against 10 turnovers, while Rostock managed just 13 assists with 15 giveaways. The extra possessions created by the turnover differential added up across forty minutes. To be fair, the visitors' shooting volume kept them in the game longer than the assist numbers might suggest, but the margin never threatened to close.
Rebounding gave Jerusalem further control. They pulled down 37 boards to Rostock's 28, including 12 offensive rebounds that generated second-chance opportunities. The visitors had only seven offensive boards and could not sustain pressure on the glass. The clean-sheet run came to an end for anyone expecting a tighter contest.
We had called for a home win at 68 per cent confidence before the game, and the result confirmed that assessment. Hapoel's depth and execution on both ends made the difference, while Rostock's recent form — a loss to Braunschweig on Friday and mixed results since — showed through. There is no value left at that number when a team starts with this kind of momentum.
The victory extends Hapoel's lead at the summit of the EuroCup standings. They now have five defeats to go with their thirteen wins, but the gap at the top remains comfortable. Rostock, meanwhile, continue to search for consistency after their narrow defeat to Braunschweig.
