For many minutes, Hapoel Holon presented good basketball and led over Hapoel Tel Aviv, but an escape by the Reds led by Jordan McRae in the last quarter gave them the game and gave the champion a 79:74 home loss that lowered their balance in the league to 3:4.
Guy Goodes' men enjoyed a nice point spread and four double-digit scorers, getting Sean Dawson who had his best game of the season and a relatively weak Eric Green, but were held to a weak 26% shooting day from beyond the arc.
"We were short at the end. This game was close and close and we were leading, but we couldn't escape. We stood on the defensive side, but today it wasn't our day for the 3. There are days like that, at the end we couldn't do the little action, a whistle here and a whistle there We have the air," said Guy Goodes at the end.
The champion came into the game after nine days without a game and looked a little rusty starting the first quarter with only 12 points.
"We were less sharp offensively and it wasn't our day offensively. You have to be fresh and there are not sharp, I also talked about it before the game that it's hard to know how we will perform after nine days," added Goodes.
The Purples displayed a good defense but struggled on the offensive side and exceeded the twenty point mark for the quarter only once, when Eric Green was stopped at only 5 points and 2 of 10 from the field.
"We were less sharp, and the balls didn't go to Erik, who is our top scorer. If we had scored a little better, we would have won without a doubt," said the club.
Dawson.
Record match, which was not enough for Holon, photo: Oded Karni
Despite the loss, the club was happy to see the performance of Sean Dawson who stood out with 20 and recorded his best game of the season.
"Sean was sharp and looked great even in training before the game. He started the game wonderfully and we felt him. He is an important player for us in producing points and with his size as an Israeli in several positions."
"It was a classic top game with a great atmosphere that both teams really wanted to win. Defensively we kept well but offensively it wasn't our day and the game went in their direction. Personally I felt good, for a long time I was waiting for a game where I would feel like I was contributing to the team and a good game but unfortunately it wasn't enough This time for victory," Dawson shared his feelings at the end.
After the match, the champion will begin preparations for the European framework where on Tuesday they will host the Polish Legia Warsaw at the Toto Hall as part of the fifth round in the group stage of the FIBA Champions League
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