Thomas Walkup is expected to make his return to Olympiacos’ practices early this week and be available for the must-win home game vs Panathinaikos at Peace and Friendship Stadium on Thursday, March 14.
The Greek-American guard has been recovering from a left ankle sprain he sustained a week ago, which sidelined him against Virtus Bologna. The “Reds” protected him to avoid the risk of re-aggravating the injury, but they now expect him to get back to the lineup against the “Greens”.
“Injured players are in progress. Walkup has a grade 2 [ankle] sprain and is doing double and triple treatments every day, his joint mobility has greatly improved. We hope he will train Tuesday-Wednesday to play on Thursday. Larentzakis is also better, but he hasn’t done team training yet. Milutinov is out,” Giorgos Bartzokas told media on Saturday, via Basketnews.com.
Thomas Walkup has been cornerstone for the “Reds” system and has averages of 9.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals for a PIR of 10.1.
Thomas Walkup, 2 other Olympiacos players are part of the injury report for the game vs PanathinaikosÂ
Thomas Walkup is not the only Olympiacos player that is part of the injury report for Thursday’s game vs Panathinaikos. Giannoulis Larentzakis has missed the last two EuroLeague games with a right knee injury, while Nigel Williams-Goss suffered a hamstring injury in the game against Virtus Bologna.
It remains to be seen whether all three of them will be good to go on Thursday. On the other hand, Panathinaikos could have Luca Vildoza and Kostas Antetokounmpo unavailable, due to injuries. They have both missed the last two EuroLeague games vs Real Madrid and ASVEL Villeurbanne, respectively.
Panathinaikos have an 18-10 record and are third in the standings, tied with Monaco. They are one win ahead of Olympiacos, who is fifth with a 17-11 record, tied with Fenerbahce and Virtus.
As Round 1 game at OAKA Altion was decided in overtime (78-88), whoever wins Thursday’s game at Peace and Friendship Stadium will earn the tiebreaker as well. Six teams are separated by just two wins between the second place (Barcelona, 19-9) and the seventh (Virtus Bologna, 17-11), with six games to go in the regular season.
