Israeli team Maccabi Ra’anana is back in the United States for another set of preseason games, but it will be carrying a heavy heart during this year’s trip.
Maccabi Ra’anana is scheduled to play against NBA teams as Israel continues its conflict with Hamas. The Palestinian militant group attacked Israeli towns over the weekend, leading Israel to formally declare war on Hamas. The surprise strike left more than 1,200 dead in Israel, according to an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson.
With Israel in the midst of a response attack and the death tolls rising in Israel and Palestine, some have questioned whether Maccabi Ra’anana should take the floor for its first preseason contest in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“We feel for them. I don’t think we should be playing the game personally,” Nets center Nic Claxton said (via the New York Post’s Brian Lewis). “There’s bigger things than basketball going on.”
Will the NBA postpone the game between Maccabi Ra’anana and the Nets? Here is the latest news on the Israeli squad’s status.
Will Maccabi Ra’anana play in NBA preseason game vs Nets?
As of Wednesday afternoon, Maccabi Ra’anana and the Nets are still expected to play on Thursday night. Lewis reported on Monday that the NBA has not canceled or delayed the game.
The team traveled to the U.S. last week and held a practice at New Jersey City University ahead of the matchup with Brooklyn. It released a statement earlier this week saying that it wishes for “peaceful and safe days for all of us,” according to a translation.
Maccabi Ra’anana has also pledged to provide water to Israeli families amid the ongoing conflict.
What has the NBA said about the Israel-Hamas war?
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association released the following statement on Sunday night:
The NBA and NBPA mourn the horrific loss of life in Israel and condemn these acts of terrorism. We stand with the people of Israel and pray for peace for the entire region.
pic.twitter.com/xCBJcqylxW
— NBA (@NBA) October 9, 2023
Maccabi Ra’anana preseason schedule
After the contest against the Nets, Maccabi Ra’anana is scheduled to face the Cavaliers and Timberwolves in back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday.
Date
Opponent
Time (ET)
Oct. 12
at Nets
7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16
at Cavaliers
7 p.m.
Oct. 17
at Timberwolves
8 p.m
Maccabi Ra’anana basketball
Maccabi Ra’anana, which was founded in 1980, is currently part of the Israeli National League. The team is based in Ra’anana, Israel.
It participated in NBA games for the first time last year, falling to the Clippers, Trail Blazers and Thunder during the 2022 preseason.
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