Deni Avdija, Defense Play Major Role in Israel's Huge Come-From-Behind Win Over Ukraine/ Shai Boker

Shai Boker
15 ביולי 2019
זמן קריאה 4 דקות

עודכן: 16 ביולי 2019

Deni Avdija leads Israel to victory with a huge night. (FIBA.Basketball)

The U20 Eurobasket group stage came to an end tonight, as Israel, despite another slow start, blew out Ukraine, 93:74. Israel, led by Avdija on the offensive end, and Raz Adam, and Amit Suss’ on defense secured second place in Group B and will face Montenegro in the Sweet Sixteen. Game summary, five takeaways and interviews from a busy day of basketball below.

Game summary

Ukraine came out red-hot in the first four minutes as Issuf Sanon and Andrii Voinalovych gave their team a 4:14 lead. Avdija got his name in the score book and brought Israel to within eight points, but Sanon made it 10 again with a tough layup. Ofek Malka came in and buried a three-pointer to cut the lead to seven. On the defensive end for Ukraine, Andriy Grytsak stole the ball and slammed it home on the other end to grow the lead to double digits. Vadym Kozak would decide the first quarter score with a three ball that gave Ukraine a 17:29 lead after 10 minutes.

Sanon celebrates an early double digit Ukrainian lead. (FIBA.Basketball)

Hitting another three to start the second quarter, Kozak gave Ukraine a 17:32 lead. Then things began to change. Raz Adam and Amit Suss of Israel got scrappy on the defensive end, getting steals and rebounds which led to an 11-0 run by the host. Avdija and Adam scored in transition and on the break, bringing Israel to within four points (28:32) with 6:17 to go in the quarter. After Ukraine called for time to get a breather, Kozak responded with yet another three to put the lead at seven points again. Still another three by Dmytro Holovchyk gave the Ukrainians even more breathing room as they took a 31:40 lead. The Israeli side led by Adam and Kravitz quickly responded with a 9-0 run tying the game at 40:40. On Ukraine’s next possession, Sanon split two double-teams and delivered a great pass to a wide open Kozak who sunk the three and seemed to suck the life out of the arena. Kravitz immediately came back with a three of his own, but once again Sanon made a spectacular play ending in a layup to give his team a 43:45 lead headed into the locker room.

Adam drives to the hoop. Helped Avdija with a huge game. (FIBA.Basketball)

Kravitz opened the third quarter with a three-pointer to give Israel its first lead of the game at 46:45. After a Noam Avivi layup, it was Voinalovych who saw through Israel’s defense and tied the score at 48:48 with a three. A wild fadeaway-three by Kozak turned the score back in Ukraine’s favor at 51:54 with 7:48 remaining in the third quarter. Israel made its run once again with great plays on both ends, taking a 58:54 lead following an Avivi layup. The Ukrainians wouldn’t go away and quickly tied the score at 61:61 after an Ivan Mikhyeyev layup. On Ukraine's ensuing possession, Avdija denied Grytsak's dunk attempt and threw a full court pass to Yam Madar for a layup. Avdija finished the quarter with a three-point-play giving Israel a 66:61 lead headed into the final 10 minutes of the game. The crowd went crazy.

Avdija denies Grytsak's dunk attempt. (FIBA.Basketball)

Early in the final quarter, Sanon cut Israel’s lead to 66:65 by sinking two free throws, but that would be as close as his team would get. Deni Avdija once again took over on both ends leading Israel to a 77:68 lead with 6:03 to go. From there on out, Madar would help Avdija seal the deal and lead Israel to finish second in the group stage with a 19-point victory, 93:74.

The Israelis enjoyed a great night from six different players, five of whome scored in double-figures:

Deni Avdija: 21 pts, 10 rebs, 5 asts, 2 stls, 3 blks, 24 pir

Yair Kravitz: 18 pts, 2 stls, 21 pir

Noam Avivi: 15 pts, 7 rebs, 23 pir

Raz Adam: 12 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls, 18 pir

Yam Madar: 12 pts, 9 asts, 20 pir

Amit Suss: 6 pts, 4 rebs, 3 stls, 10 pir

The Ukrainian side had four players in double figures:

Andrii Voinalovych: 22 pts, 5 rebs, 20 pir

Vadym Kozak: 18 pts

Dmytro Holovchyk: 12 pts

Issuf Sanon: 11 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts

Key stats:

Rebounds: ISR 44 UKR 33

Turnovers: ISR 17 UKR 21

Steals: ISR 14 UKR 6

Blocks: ISR 11 UKR 7

Points off turnovers: ISR 28 UKR 14

Fast break points: ISR 30 UKR 4

Threes made: ISR 7/17 UKR 10/30 (3/16 in second half)

Five Takeaways:

1) When Israel wants to play defense, it’s nearly unbeatable

With the quality of tonight’s second half defense, Israel can win it all.

2) Israel must avoid slow starts

Playing great defense is nice and all, but it won’t dig you out of a 15-point hole every night, not even at home.

3) Avdija is a special talent

He reminds me a lot of LeBron with the way he sees the floor and of Durant with the way he finds a way to score the basketball. But unlike Durant, he can play defense too.

4) Raz Adam and Amit Suss can be the X-factors if Israel win it all.

Both are tenacious on the defensive end and changed an entire game for Israel.