RECORD
RS, 8-2, 1st
Last 32, 5-1, 1st
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It's a Eurocup first-timer against a former champ in an explosive quarterfinals clash. Hapoel Jerusalem has been successful with a balanced lineup that features seven players averaging double figures in scoring. Injuries have forced Nizhny Novgorod to tinker with its lineup, but more players seem to rise to the occasion each time. Both teams have players that have been in pressure situations before too; Nizhny's Dimitriy Khvostov is a former Eurocup winner and teamed with Semen Antonov to win an Olympic medal in 2012. Hapoel's Yotam Halperin and Yaniv Green are both former Euroleague champs. Statistically the teams are quite similar, with the noteworthy difference being that Hapoel pounds the ball inside and dominates the offensive glass thanks to the trio of Art Parakhouski, Josh Duncan and Lior Eliyahu, while Nizhny changes games with the three-point shooting of Rochestie Taylor, Vadim Panin and Antonov. Each team also sports an 8-1 home record. Nizhny boasts one of the best defenses in the competition, having held opponents to just 72.2 points per game, while the 78.3 ppg. allowed by Jerusalem is the most of any quarterfinalist and could play a major impact on the series outcome.
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RECORD
RS, 6-4, 2nd
Last 32, 4-2, 1st
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