BROOKLYN – Barclays Center turned Blue and White on Saturday night as the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets hosted Israeli club Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. for a preseason game won by the home squad 123-88.
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In contrast to ugly scenes in Europe in recent months of opposing players and fans booing and turning their backs on the Israeli national anthem to protest the war in Gaza, the 13,849 in attendance respectfully stood in silence as Israeli-American performer Gilad Paz sang “Hatikva.” The camera showed at least one Israeli flag held up in the stands.
The SB Nation sports blogging network described the atmosphere inside the building in the New York City borough as “festive,” reporting that “fans at the arena gave the road team plenty of cheers and after the game ended, players from Haopel took pictures with fans and took time to shake hands and make them feel welcome and appreciated.”
It was the Nets’ first and only home preseason matchup. The team travels to China to play two games against the Phoenix Suns, tipping off on Friday.
Hapoel Jerusalem—led by former NBA player Jared Harper at point guard—is currently competing in the BKT EuroCup, kicking off the campaign on the road in Germany with a 100-85 victory over the Hamburg Towers on Sept. 30 before boarding a plane for NYC. Next up for the Jerusalemites in Group A is another away game on European soil as they tip off against KK Cedevita Olimpija from Ljubljana, Slovenia. That game will be played in the Serbian capital Belgrade.
Pais Arena in Israel’s capital plays host to Hapoel’s Israel Basketball Premier League regular season opener against Nes Ziona on Oct. 12.