Hapoel Jerusalem produced a composed road performance in Ligat HaAl, defeating Hapoel Tel Aviv 70-60 on Monday night. Jerusalem trailed entering the fourth quarter but took control with a decisive run to open the final period, turning a tight rivalry game into a valuable away win.

The result strengthens Hapoel Jerusalem’s position in the Ligat HaAl standings and hands Hapoel Tel Aviv a frustrating home defeat in a game they had controlled for long stretches.

Match overview

Hapoel Tel Aviv started with energy, building an 18-16 lead after the first quarter. The game remained close through halftime, with Jerusalem holding a slim 33-32 advantage. Tel Aviv regained the lead in the third quarter, using a 10-2 run to go ahead 48-44 heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter changed everything. Hapoel Jerusalem opened with an 11-0 run, forced several turnovers, and held Tel Aviv to just 12 points in the period. The visitors’ half-court defense and timely shot-making proved the difference.

Key moments

• Hapoel Jerusalem’s 11-0 run to start the fourth quarter turned a 48-44 deficit into a 55-48 lead.
• Amit Gershon hit a contested three-pointer during the run and followed it with a steal that led to a fast-break layup.
• Hapoel Tel Aviv cut the lead to 58-55 with three minutes left, but Jerusalem answered with six straight points.
• Jerusalem forced eight fourth-quarter turnovers and limited Tel Aviv to 4-of-15 shooting in the final period.

Tactical story

Hapoel Jerusalem’s defensive adjustment in the second half was the key tactical story. They switched to a more aggressive zone look, crowding Tel Aviv’s guards and forcing difficult entry passes. Tel Aviv, which had success attacking the paint early, settled for outside shots in the fourth quarter and went cold.

On offense, Jerusalem relied on ball movement and timely three-point shooting. They finished with 16 assists and shot 9-of-24 from beyond the arc. Tel Aviv won the rebounding battle 36-32 but could not overcome their turnover problems.

Standout players

Amit Gershon led Hapoel Jerusalem with 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Daniel Rosenbaum added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Eitan Cohen contributed 12 points off the bench.

For Hapoel Tel Aviv, Omer Tal scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds. Yonatan Levi added 14 points, but Tel Aviv’s backcourt struggled against Jerusalem’s pressure in the closing minutes.

Season impact

The win gives Hapoel Jerusalem momentum in Ligat HaAl and reinforces their reputation as a tough road team. Hapoel Tel Aviv will need to address their fourth-quarter execution and turnover issues. The rivalry result could prove important when the standings tighten later in the season.